A weekly look at the NBA’s Eastern Conference and the potential playoff matchups for the Toronto Raptors:
They lurk in the middle of the Eastern Conference pack, re-tooled and concerned about long-term health rather than short-term games, a team Toronto Raptors coach Dwane Casey terms “formidable” because of its “championship pedigree.”
The Miami Heat may not be in the mix as a possible first-round opponent for the Raptors when the playoffs open in just more than a month but they will be on everyone’s mind if things unfold as expected. Currently chasing the Boston Celtics for third overall while trying to hold off the fifth-place Charlotte Hornets, the Heat are one of those veteran teams with a proven history of post-season success that should be respected, if not feared.