Toronto Raptors: Three keys to beating the Boston Celtics in semi-finals
By Jason Mills
The Toronto Raptors have continued their dominance in the NBA’s Eastern Conference sweeping the Brooklyn Nets out of the playoffs Sunday night winning 150-122. Now, after completing their first-ever playoff series sweep, the Toronto Raptors face another first, the Boston Celtics starting Thursday in the Eastern Conference semi-finals.
The reigning NBA champions, the Toronto Raptors, face a new challenge heading into the second round of the 2020 NBA Playoffs. For the first time, the Toronto Raptors will face their Atlantic Division rivals the Boston Celtics. The Raptors have faced divisional rivals Brooklyn/New Jersey Nets three times, the New York Knicks, and Philadelphia 76ers twice in the NBA Playoffs.
2020 has been an intriguing year of firsts for the Toronto Raptors. After procuring their first NBA title in 2019, they have followed that feat with their best winning percentage at .736 this regular season. Kyle Lowry became the team’s all-time leader in assists this season and his running tally stands at 3,939. The Raptors also reeled off their first and longest winning streak to date, this season, at 15 games.
Not only was the sweep of the Brooklyn Nets the first time the Raptors have done that in a playoff series but it was also the first time in three tries that the Raptors have won a playoff series vs the Nets. The new challenge is the Boston Celtics and it should be a treat for basketball fans.
The Raptors are now in their seventh consecutive playoff run while the Boston Celtics are appearing in their sixth straight. The Raptors have been to two Eastern Conference finals and won an NBA Championship in those seven years while the Celtics have been to consecutive Eastern Conference Finals in 2017 and 2018. While Toronto is a first time champion in 2019, the Celtics have been crowned 17 times as the NBA’s champion.
The all-time regular-season series between these two teams favors the Celtics who have won 57 of 97 meetings. Boston has won five of the last eight games against Toronto dating back to last season. This includes the 122-100 blowout in favor of Boston on August 7th, 2020.
If the Toronto Raptors can take advantage of the following three things, they may be the keys to securing a second-round series victory over the Boston Celtics.