Toronto Raptors vs. Boston Celtics NBA Playoffs Preview

Last Word on Pro Basketball is giving you an NBA Playoffs preview for each series as it begins inside the bubble.

The Toronto Raptors and the Boston Celtics both made quick work through their first-round series are set to face off in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. This will be the first time that the Raptors and Celtics meet in the postseason.

NBA Playoffs Preview: Toronto Raptors vs. Boston Celtics

Frontcourt

The strength of the Celtics frontcourt lies within their forwards Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. During the regular season, Tatum averaged 23.4 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists per game. Brown, on the other hand, averaged 20.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game. Tatum and Brown are expected to do more offensively in the absence of Gordon Hayward. The other Celtics frontcourt member is Daniel Theis and he will be relied on to do the dirty work. Mainly, Theis will be the anchor on the defensive end.

The strength of the Raptors frontcourt is forward Pascal Siakam. During the regular season, Siakam averaged 22.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. The other Raptors starting frontcourt members are forward OG Anunoby and center Marc Gasol. Anunoby will be relied on to guard either Tatum or Brown while Gasol will be relied on to anchor the strong Raptors defense.

The Raptors frontcourt consists of long and rangy players who are excellent defenders. The Celtics on the other hand, like to play small ball. The advantage here belongs to the Celtics because of the offensive prowess of Tatum and Brown. The Raptors will have their hands full trying to slow both of them down. On the flip side, the Celtics will focus their defense on Siakam and try to slow him down.

Jayson Tatum vs the Sixers:

27.0 PPG
9.8 RPG
48.7 FG%
45.2 3P%
4-0 Sweep pic.twitter.com/BIkHysxtgH

— StatMuse (@statmuse) August 23, 2020

Advantage: Boston Celtics

Backcourt

The strength of the Boston Celtics backcourt is Kemba Walker. During the regular season, Walker averaged 20.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 4.8 assists. Walker has been in great shape since the restart and has put the knee problems he had before the hiatus behind him.

Marcus Smart is the other important contributor in the Celtics backcourt and he is an absolute pest on the defensive end. With Hayward’s absence, he has moved into the starting lineup. Smart is also a player who can give the Celtics some scoring as he averaged 12.9 points per game during the regular season.

The Raptors have a strong backcourt duo in Kyle Lowry and Fred VanVleet. During the regular season, Lowry averaged 19.4 points, 5 rebounds, and 7.5 assists. VanVleet, on the other hand, averaged 17.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 6.6 assists during the regular season. Something to keep an eye out during this series is Lowry’s ankle injury and how it will affect him moving forward.

The Raptors backcourt has the paper-thin advantage over the Celtics backcourt because they are more lethal offensively. Smart, who is an excellent defender, will draw the assignment to slow down one of the Raptors backcourt players. On the flip side, the Raptors players will have their hands full guarding Walker.

Fred VanVleet is the first player in @Raptors history to record at least 30 points and 10 assists in a playoff game.

He was also one 3PT FG (8) shy of tying the Raptors postseason record held by Vince Carter (9). pic.twitter.com/D3MXOJnwZA

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) August 17, 2020

Advantage: Toronto Raptors

Bench

The Celtics’ bench has weakened since they moved Smart to their starting lineup in Hayward’s absence. Those key players include Enes Kanter, Brad Wanamaker, Semi Ojeleye, Grant Williams, and Romeo Langford. Kanter will be the one who provides the most offense for the Celtics off the bench. He averaged eight points off the bench during the regular season. The other bench players likely won’t provide consistent scoring for the Celtics. Their bench scoring is a glaring weakness for them. The Celtics are ranked second to last in bench scoring in the NBA this season according to hoopstats.com.

The Raptors’ bench, on the other hand, has key players like Serge Ibaka, Norman Powell, and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson. Ibaka is their spark plug off the bench and he averaged 15.8 points during the regular season. The Raptors bench isn’t much better than the Celtics bench as they are ranked near the bottom third in the NBA in bench scoring according to hoopstats.com, but the advantage here belongs to the Raptors.

Advantage: Toronto Raptors

Coaches

The Celtics are a well-coached team led by head coach Brad Stevens. He has made it to the postseason in each of the last six seasons as their head coach including two trips to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2017 and 2018.

The Raptors are also a well-coached team led by head coach Nick Nurse. In his two seasons as head coach, he led the Raptors to a championship and just recently won the Coach of the Year award. The edge here goes to Nurse since he has the championship under his belt.

Advantage: Toronto Raptors

Final Prediction: Celtics in Seven

The Raptors and Celtics series is the toughest Conference Semifinals series to predict in this year’s Playoffs. Both teams are in the top five in the NBA in defensive efficiency this season so it will come down to which team can score the ball more. The Celtics have the advantage offensively over the Raptors. The Celtics are fifth in offensive efficiency in the NBA. Their offense will be the factor that propels them into this year’s Eastern Conference Finals, but the defending champions will make a series out of it and push it to seven games. This series is currently scheduled to start today.