Toronto Raptors: Previewing a season-long battle with the Philadelphia 76ers
Season matchups and predictions
Tuesday, October 30th, in Toronto:
Both teams are coming off of a back-to-back. Toronto is attempting to recover after their first loss of the season against a Giannis-less Milwaukee Bucks team. Philadelphia is coming off a take-care-of-business type win at Atlanta.
Back-to-backs are strenuous. Road back-to-backs are significantly more difficult. After a loss, I’m expecting the Raptors to be motivated.
Toronto 112 – Philadelphia 103
Wednesday, December 5th, in Toronto:
Another matchup in Toronto, this time with both teams fully-rested. If healthy and rested, it’s hard to pick against the home team in this matchup, even harder to pick against Toronto at home.
Toronto 124- Philadelphia 120
Saturday, December 22nd, in Philadelphia:
This will be the Raptors last game before Christmas as once again the NBA decides to leave Toronto off the biggest day of the regular season.
The Raptors are coming off a back-to-back (even if it is the Cavaliers) while the Sixers are gifted three days of rest. Perhaps Toronto can sneak a few DNP-rests against a lowly Cleveland squad. Even so, at home, expect a Sixers victory.
Philadelphia 115 – Toronto 105
Tuesday, February 5th, in Philadelphia
Very weird that the Raptors don’t play either the Philadelphia 76ers or the Boston Celtics in the last month and a half of the season. The last 76ers, Raptors matchup, comes in early February on game 55.
Toronto and Philly will both be rested, but for I’ll give this game to the Raptors. Toronto is the better team and winning three-of-four seems like a reasonable task.