J.Ross: Tonight Feels Like a Big Night for the Raptors

On the Lo-Down we have been talking about the landscape of the Eastern Conference.  Damien is all on board the Toronto Raptors band wagon.  I can’t say that I blame him.  They have a 5 game lead on their competition and now have a very impressive record of (53-18).  After starting (11-7) they have won 42 of their last 53 games including 19 of their last 21.  They now rank 3rd in the league in scoring (112 ppg) and they have the 3rd best defense.  This team is balanced and is well coached.  Tonight they play the Cleveland Cavaliers who they faced back on January 11th and handed them their worst loss of the season 133-99.

This feels like a big game for March.  The Raptors are starting to make believers out there but they still have their doubters too.  I am one of them.  I can acknowledge that I am impressed by what they are doing but I want to see it done in the post-season.  Tonight they are in Cleveland against a Cavs team that isn’t all the way right.  Their head coach is out, several other players are either not fully up and running or are still out too.  So how does this game go?  Will it matter? The last 10 times the Raptors have gone to Cleveland they have lost 9 of those trips.  Many still think that Cleveland is still the team to beat.

Toronto may not be able to change that line of thinking tonight but they can continue to add more believers, including themselves.  We all say they we want to see them do legitimate damage in the playoffs.  While that remains to be seen, they can add to their own confidence tonight and put more doubt on the Cavs.  Confidence is a good thing and the Raptors need to have as much post-season belief as possible.  It will be fun to watch to see if LeBron can will his team to a win or will tonight really feel like a true passing of the torch.  Watch and find out.

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