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How the Toronto Raptors match up against the top of the East

By Hunter Surphlis

PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 8: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers plays defense against Pascal Siakam #43 of the Toronto Raptors on December 8, 2019 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 8: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers plays defense against Pascal Siakam #43 of the Toronto Raptors on December 8, 2019 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Toronto Raptors – OG Anunoby & Fred VanVleet (Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images)
Toronto Raptors – OG Anunoby & Fred VanVleet (Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images) /

Boston Celtics

The Celtics are the most skill-heavy team on this list. Both their offense and not surprisingly their defense are rated in the top-10.

Just like the 6ers, the Celtics have a boatload of top-end talent on their roster. There’s a real argument that can be made for three different players to go to the All-Star game.

The Celtics ceiling and floor are both pretty high this season and when they’ve been fully healthy, they look much closer to the top than the bottom.

Better Player

It’s not obvious who the Celtics best player is but, Kemba Walker is likely the front runner in the conversation.

With that being said, it’s got to be Siakam over Kemba at this point. The Celtics point guard is a better offensive player than Pascal, but the margin isn’t super wide. With that being said, Siakam has more 30+ point games this year and fewer games under 20 points.

Defensively, it’s no contest. Siakam is at an all-defensive level and Kemba is known to be a bit of a sieve on that end of the floor.

Better Supporting Cast

There’s a reason the Celtics play such a team-oriented style of basketball. It’s because they have a lot of good players. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are thriving once again without Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward when healthy was finally looking like his old self.

The Raptors are good around the edges, but they don’t exactly scream consistency. The wing and guard depth are fairly similar between these two so it’s just a matter of who you can trust more.

This one was tough, but the edge goes to the Celtics.

Better Coach

There isn’t a coach in the NBA who gets more praise than Brad Stevens. The offensive systems he builds for his teams are impressive and the way the ball moves around shows he gets his players to buy-in.

Nurse does a lot of the same, but it’s his defensive schemes that stand out the most.

Nick Nurse gets this one.

Free agents the Toronto Raptors could sign while the roster is limited. dark. Next

This is a matchup that benefits the Raptors quite a bit. Both teams have lengthy wing defenders for the perimeter, but the Celtics don’t have a whole lot to stop Siakam or Ibaka inside.

The Raptors have the leg up.

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