Raptors next opponent: what’s happening in other series?

Let’s enjoy some speculation, shall we? The Raptors are going to put away the Pacers in Indianapolis this evening (right? RIGHT?…not that I’m tense or anything), then get geared up for the second round against…whom?

Toronto plays the winner of the Miami Heat-Charlotte Hornets series, which the upstart Hornets lead 3-2. The home team won the first four games, but Miami surrendered the home court advantage with a 90-88 loss Wednesday night. We Raptors fans would like nothing more than to face a tired squad, though not an injured one.

[20-second timeout: we don’t spend much time on non-Raptors matters here, but I must note with regret the damage being done in the Western Conference. The Los Angeles Clippers lost Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and likely their title aspirations on the same day due to serious injuries. Stephen Curry is out for several weeks with a sprained knee, tarnishing the Golden State Warriors’ hopes. Back in the East, the Boston Celtics couldn’t hang in against the Atlanta Hawks without Avery Bradley. Miami’s Chris Bosh has been sidelined since February 9 with a serious blood clot issue. All of this misfortune provides a reminder to stay humble. Injuries are the great leveler.]

Should the Hornets close out this series at home tonight or in Game 7, the Raptors will face a team similar to themselves. The Hornets haven’t exactly covered themselves with playoff glory in this century. Their last post-season victory was in (Gulp!) 2001-02, when they advanced to the Eastern semi-finals after defeating the Orlando Magic in a five-game series. Since then, the Bobcats/Hornets have made the playoffs just twice and were quickly kicked to the curb both times.

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This year’s Hornets compiled the ever-popular 48-34 record of teams 3 through 6 in the East. Their roster seems to have been assembled in a mad scientist’s lab, but you can’t argue with the results. The starters are:

1. PG – Kemba Walker: quick, small and a shooter…was in discussion for Most Improved Player, but I thought he simply had more weapons around him and took advantage
2. SG – Courtney Lee: has bounced around but seems to have found a home…primarily a defender
3. SF – Frank Kaminsky: long rookie has earned his big minutes…can shoot or put ball on the floor
4. PF – Marvin Williams: this guy was the second pick overall in the 2005 draft…perpetual underachiever…morphed into a stretch-4
5. C   – Al Jefferson: veteran beast of a scorer…can be exploited by scoring centre like Jonas Valanciunas

Their excellent coach, Steve Clifford, likes a tight rotation in the playoffs. He’s been rolling in Raptors killer Jeremy Lin, versatile and smart swingman Nicholas Batum, while up front bangers Cody Zeller and Spencer Hawes [update: he’s gone indefinitely with a sprained knee] get the bulk of the minutes. As a result, several players, including ex-Raptor tough guy Tyler Hansbrough and Jeremy Lamb, who’s never gotten his career out of first gear, have been glued to the bench.

Next: Raptors bench providing playoff lift

The Raptors – Pacers game is once again the undercard on tonight’s TV lineup. One assumes the network suits hate our team and the Hornets for their lack of glamour. I hope our team and the Hornets finish off their opponents without further delay and face each other next round. Here’s to the rise of the un-sexy squads.