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Boston Celtics: 3 teams to keep an eye on from now till season’s end

By Mark Nilon

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - DECEMBER 12: Kemba Walker #8 of the Boston Celtics looks on during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers at TD Garden on December 12, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. The 76ers defeat the Celtics 115-109. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - DECEMBER 12: Kemba Walker #8 of the Boston Celtics looks on during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers at TD Garden on December 12, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. The 76ers defeat the Celtics 115-109. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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Boston Celtics (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
Boston Celtics (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /

Toronto Raptors

Last but certainly not least, we have the defending champions Toronto Raptors. This offseason the team from the north lost face-of-the-franchise, All-NBA honoree, NBA All-Star and Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard to free-agency after just one season with the team.

Because of this, many believed the Raptors would regress tremendously, with some being under the impression that the team would miss the postseason entirely in 2019-20.

Now 55 games in the team appears to have surprised seemingly everyone’s expectations and have produced at about the same level as they did the season prior, with equally as many All-Stars (Kyle Lowry and Pascal Siakam).

Similar to the two aforementioned teams, Toronto resides in the top-5 of the standings in the conference. Unlike the others, however, the Raps rank ahead of the Boston Celtics in said standings.

At 40-15 they are two wins ahead of the C’s. The reason as to why the Raptors’ should be a team to keep an eye on is, not for a potential playoff matchup but, rather, for Boston to potentially rise in the rankings.

As previously stated, the C’s trail Toronto by only two wins. Already leading the season series two games to one with one more game to go, Boston has a realistic shot of surpassing Canada’s favorite NBA franchise not just in the conference standings but also in the Atlantic Division standings, thus deeming them Division Champions for the first time since 2017.

Rising in the standings would give them even more confidence heading into the postseason and, also, would give them home-court advantage till at least the Conference Finals if they wound up making it that far.

Surpassing the Toronto Raptors in the standings is quite a realistic and beneficial goal that the Boston Celtics could achieve by season’s end.

Next. 3 C's that could be replaced via the buyout market. dark

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