Raptors Tracking: Race to the Playoffs (Thanks Heir_Canada!)

[Heir_Canada]

didnt feel like updating it after a two game skid.. but watever.. its updated..

bobcats pretty close to catching up to us

[Lord Eder]

Gotta take care of business in New York. Dallas and Cleveland will be tough... as will the second night of a back to back on the road in Milwaukee

[Lionel Messi]

I hope we beat the knicks and mavericks. The mavericks are really a tough matchup for us though.

[HiMyNameIsTrey]

Damn, Miami beat Houston tonight.

Edit: ATL, Charlotte, and Chicago all won tonight too lol

[Dr Positivity]

Looks like Orlando will fall to 4th after tonight. that's good, I'd rather play them than Atlanta.

Orlando's got some bad vibes. Carter is definitely a career loser type now

[Dr Positivity]

Man wouldn't it be awesome if Orlando spiraled from this point on (like the coach has lost the team) and us and Miami ended up 4th/5th. A playoff series vs Miami would = OMG. I would get soooo pumped. I hate Miami more than I hate 50 Cent

It would be fitting too because this team reminds me of the 06-07 team and we ended up playing the most dramatic opponent possible the Nets

Edit - I just realized if Miami passes Orlando and we stay in 6th, we play Miami. So I guess I won't be as upset when Miami wins from now on!

[Knicksick]

Hey guys---good game by the Raptors---I was a little mad after the game (being down 30 at home hurts) but you guys are just more talented and outplayed us by a mile in the first half. playoffs are a lock for you and it looks like you can get that 5th seed.

I still think your team isn't in a great situation with the contracts of Calderon and Turkoglu but you'll be a perennial playoff team and possible 2nd round team if you keep playing at that level. Good luck and maybe we'll get revenge sometime this season.


p.s:Derozan looks pretty decent

[Kevin Willis]

Next week will be interesting in terms of the standings.

Miami - a decent schedule, they should fight us off this week though
Chicago - going out west. They're going to give some games back this week to the Raptors no doubt
Charlotte - they play Miami so it doesn't really matter who wins, it would help us. They should still be right with us at the end of the week.

[Hobo Gonzolez]

Edit - I just realized if Miami passes Orlando and we stay in 6th, we play Miami. So I guess I won't be as upset when Miami wins from now on!

We would likely play Atlanta in that scenario.

[Heir_Canada]

updated

[ATLTimekeeper]

We're now 11-15 against teams .500 or better, and we've only got 19 more games against teams currently .500 or better.

[The Offseasono]

This season really does remind me of the 47 win season we had a couple of seasons ago.

[gojoorange]

Bobcats on pace to move into 6th in the east with a win today, putting the Raps in 7th

[Lord Eder]

Charlotte moved into 5th with todays win. I'm assuming they hold the tie-break against Miami so far. Not too much cause for worry though. They're all pretty much tied for fifth at this point being 5.5 GB from 4th. Chicago is still a game and a half back. Depending on what they do in Golden State they might make some ground. Everyone outside the playoff picture doesn't really seem to be doing anything. Phila's heating up but they're just so far behind.... they'd need one of the bottom four teams to just absolutely collapse. And with the way they've all been playing recently I don't think it'll happen.

[McFurious1]

looks like we're in a tight race

[BigShotBob13]

CHA has been playing better basketball then we've been playing and that's saying a lot considering how good we've been. It's going to be a fun ride the rest of the way. I hope the chance to climb higher in the standings with some of the "Top 4" faltering and the fact that it's so tight in positioning pushes the team more. We can't afford to take any nights off given the east playoff race right now.

[Marvin!]

Charlotte is 3-15 on the road.
7 of their next 10 games are on the road, and the ones that aren't are against Miami, Orlando (and Orlando game is back to back after the Atlanta game) and vs. New Orleans. The games are:
vs. Miami, @Atl, vs. Orlando, @Den, @Phx (BTB), @GSW, @Sac (BTB), @Por, @LAL, vs. New Orleans.

They have a tough stretch of games coming up. Even if you give them the Miami, GSW and Sac Game that's 3 out of 10. They will have to play out of their minds on the road to come out of that stretch with more than 5 wins.

After that stretch they get a bit of a break leading up the allstar weekend with 3 games:
vs. Washington, @Minny, vs. NJN. So they can ease into the allstar break with that good stretch, but this road trip is going to be huge for them. Toronto can get a few games on them over the next 10 to 13 games.

Also note:

The Bobcats allow the fewest points in the NBA (93.1 per game). That is simultaneously true and misleading.

What's happened of late isn't consistent with that stat, as Charlotte has allowed 97 or more in four of the past five games. The absence of center Tyson Chandler, out with a stress reaction in his left foot, has caught up with them defensively.

[Marvin!]

Miami is 9-9 on the road so far. 11 of their next 15 games are on the road. Between now and the allstar break:

vs Ind
@ Cha (BTB)
@ Was
vs Sac
@ Tor
@ Det
@ Mil
vs Mil
@ Bos
@ Cle (BTB)
@ Chi
vs Hou
@ Atl (BTB)
@ Phi
@ NJ

A bit of a mixed bag, plus they seem to be struggling a bit so who knows how they will do over that stretch. The @ Bos, @ Cle (BTB), @ Chi, vs Hou, @ Atl (BTB) stretch looks particularly bad for them.

[Reignman]

I believe Gerald Wallace is also having issues with his ankle.

[ahandle]

great job on this thread, keep it up!