There are a couple of pieces of good news for Toronto Raptors fans to consider when pondering their team's chances of success in their first round series against the third-seeded Orlando Magic.
1. In the past five seasons, four of the 10 third-seeded teams lost the opening-round series (tragically, the Raptors were one of those teams in 2007).
2. The Raptors have at least a fighting chance against the Magic, whereas the narrowly avoided match-up against the second-seeded Detroit Pistons was an almost-certain death sentence.
So much for the silver lining. The Magic won two of three games played against the Raptors this season, and the Raptors had a record of 9-16 in the months of March and April compared to Orlando's 15-7 record. So the Raptors stumbled into the post-season while the Magic entered the playoffs on a roll.
If you believe in miracles, you think the Raptors have a chance of containing Dwight Howard – who averaged 24.3 points and 12.7 rebounds on 71 percent shooting in his three games against the Raptors – and you believe that Andrea Bargnani will somehow find his mojo and provide a frontcourt answer for Orlando's dynamic duo of $110 million dollar man Rashard Lewis and likely 2007-08 Most Improved Player Hedo Turkoglu.
Recent events indicate those scenarios are extremely far-fetched. The Raptors have a significant advantage at point guard thanks to the Ford/Calderon two-headed monster and Chris Bosh is likely ready to prove himself as a playoff performer after last year's disappointment, but that won't be enough to avoid another first-round exit for Canada's Team. Magic in six.
Boston (1) vs. Atlanta (8)
It's heart-warming to see the Atlanta Hawks make the playoffs for the first time since 1999, but they're merely a speed-bump on Boston's certain road to the Eastern Conference Finals. Celtics in four.
Detroit (2) vs. Philadelphia (7)
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