As it currently stands, the Toronto Raptors and Houston Rockets each sit atop their respective conferences. However, that doesn’t mean that many analysts and pundits would consider highly a Raptors-Rockets NBA Finals likely.
Despite the standings, both teams are currently treated as underdogs both by the media and the folks in Las Vegas. This is largely due to each team’s previous failures during the post-season.
Around the internet, the Raptors have been referred to as the “Clippers of the Eastern Conference.” When in reality, they share more similarities with the Rockets. Both teams have had success both in the regular season and post-season, including a trip to the Conference Finals, only to fail short against the leagues elite.