After one of the summer’s best games on Wednesday night – a double-overtime thriller which Toronto eventually pulled out – the Raptors and Celtics are headed for a Game 7 on Friday. It may not be the only second-round series to ultimately go seven games, but it’s the first one to get there.
Prior to 2020, the Raptors and Celtics had never met in the postseason, but this series has been worth the wait. The Atlantic Division rivals were fairly evenly matched during the regular season, buoyed to the Nos. 2 and 3 seeds in the East by their lockdown defenses, and those defenses have been on full display this series.
Pascal Siakam, an All-Star this season for the Raptors, has struggled immensely against Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart, and the rest of Boston’s defenders in the second round, averaging just 15.2 PPG on .378/.129/.722 shooting, a significant step down from his season averages of 22.9 PPG on .453/.359/.792 shooting.
Fellow All-Star Kemba Walker, meanwhile, has had some big games and hit some big shots in the series, but has struggled at times to get things going against the likes of Fred VanVleet, Kyle Lowry, and OG Anunoby, even facing a box-and-one defense on Wednesday. In Game 6, he scored just five points on 2-of-11 shooting.
Lowry and Jayson Tatum have had productive series, and Brown and Smart have had some big-time performances for the C’s, while Anunoby and Norman Powell have hit some series-saving shots for the Raptors, who are also getting solid production from Serge Ibaka. But Nick Nurse and Brad Stevens haven’t been relying too much on their benches — in Wednesday’s game, Marc Gasol was the only starter on either team who didn’t play at least 47 minutes.
Of the series’ six games so far, two have been blowouts — both Celtics wins. The Raptors have won three of the four close games. Those numbers would seem to favor Boston, and the C’s are indeed viewed as more likely to advance. Most oddsmakers have the Celtics listed as at least two-point favorites for Game 7.
With over 24 hours to go before Game 7 tips off, we want to get your predictions. Will it be the Raptors or the Celtics that comes through on Friday and advances to play Miami in the Eastern Conference Finals?
Vote in our poll, then head to the comment section below to share your thoughts!
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Celtics are a bit better team
Raptors are mentally tougher
I vote Raptors
Shame this couldn’t be the East finals both really good teams. Don’t think heat have a chance of beating either of these teams. I think celtics are the only team on East that have a chance against clips and lakers.
Nobody said the Heat would beat the Bucks either… but here we are. They’re good enough to beat either Toronto or Boston
Both the raptors or Celtics have a spread offense so far heat have only had to play pacers (no star) and giannis on the bucks. Both these teams can spread the floor and average 3/4 scorers in the 20 range. Heat are overrated and overhyped
Yeah I’m pretty sure you have no idea what you’re talking about. You don’t knock off the top team and get to call them overrated. Heat play tough defense to make you earn every point and have multiple perimeter scorers along with 2 way star in Butler.
Heat in 4 vs Dinos
Pretty sure you haven’t watched either the Celtics or raptors play. Let’s revisit this after heat lose in 5
Makes no difference. The winner of the ECF is #3 at best.
I can’t see Kemba having another bad gm. These Raptors man. I don’t like their team mix. I keep thinking they are gone. And they just keep fighting. And finding ways to win. Man
I can’t see VVleet playing as bad, either. I’m not saying he needs to match Kemba, just be himself and Raptors win.
I think Siakam is the one due for a law-of-averages game.
FVV does not look like a $20mil free agent!
Actually it’s amazing Toronto is still in it.
I’m a Celtics fan so I’m gonna stick with my team but the Raptors have been so much better than I anticipated. Also the Celtics are a little more sloppy than I would like, especially Tatum and Brown. Hopefully they can play a lot smarter this last game. Don’t have to force every possession.
+1 for Tatum he has no D and soft on the off. side
+1 for Tatum he has no D and soft on the off. side
Remembering how the current team carried Kawhi in the last Finals, I been saying all season I felt the Raptors could repeat. They’re still my choice.
Hell, just getting back to the Finals without Leonard is an accomplishment.
Btw… some teams are being real quiet in their coaching search. Could someone be waiting to try to cherry pick Nurse?
Are the Raps still your choice?
Toronto bests 6th men are those bs REFS !!!
I don’t know how you can have watched the playoffs and think the refs support any team. They have been equal opportunity with their questionable calls.
Equal but not equitable
If you watched the Rockets/Thunder series you would have seen how ridiculously biased the refs were against Houston. They play more 5 on 8 than any team in the NBA.
Nurse & Lowry 2 crying babies + Toronto has no D and just shoot 3… Hope the C’s will beat those sorry asses to see a decent eastern final
I’m hoping a different set of officials show up for game 7. Such great efforts by both teams only to be frustrated by repeated missed and poor calls. Even Mark Jackson announcing said it is too bad the refs had a role in deciding the outcome.
It’s a toss-up. Celtics have a slightly better team IMO, but the Raps have that close game experience. I think either team would beat Miami, I don’t think either team would beat the Lakers or the Clips.
Only person with Common sense on here.
I’m from Boston but my money says Toronto. I hope I’m wrong.
The Celtics need to put it away in the third quarter to win this win. Can’t risk it being a close one and possibly extending the game to OT. Raptors may have the better bench but both teams looked equally gassed. But the celtics correctly took advantage of the easy alleys and put backs towards the end but I guess didn’t think to guard the line in lieu of the more energy intensive drives and cuts to the basket. Uncontested 3s beat 2s every time. Altho open or not I’m not sure OG hits that 3 next time. C’s in 7
Walker shot 2-11 FG for 5 pts. 7 ast
Siakam shot 5-19 FG for 12 pts. 8 reb
One them has to have a big gm. I still like Celtics. Like posters have been saying. Celts better not go down to last shot. We haven’t been talking about it. The no home court advantage. Has really helped teams IMO. Teams who are better coached and zoned in. Are all doing well. Oh and another thing Heat are going to Finals. Coming in I would have said. They are tops fourth best team. This team came into bubble all business.
Heat in 5 regardless of which wins tonight.
The winner of the Heat/Celtics series will get swept in the Finals.
You couldn’t be more wrong
Raptors win… Game 7 homecourt advantage! (wink)
I think the Celtics win this one relatively easily… similar to the blowouts in games 1 and 5 — however having said that… if they struggle shooting like they have in a couple of these games and it’s a tight game going into the 3rd Q and the C’s don’t pull away then, then I think the Raptors take it. I know that might seem like a contradictory prediction — but basically I think the Celtics are the much more talented team and can easily win this game… however if they come out flat/just aren’t shooting well… then I don’t particularly like their chances in a “dog fight” type of game. They have to play their game to win, and if for some reason they can’t — I think the Raptors have the edge when it comes down to grinding out a close game.