Toronto Raptors vs. Boston Celtics Game Preview

Quick-Hitters

• The Toronto Raptors look to continue their strong restart Friday, taking on the Boston Celtics and looking to lock up the second seed over them. They have played with an impressive level of focus on both ends, with aggressive team offense and stifling defense.

• The Raptors have won every game in the bubble, including their impressive restart-opener against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Celtics, meanwhile, have had an inconsistent showing offensively and have started 2-2 in the seeding games. Both teams have exhibited tremendous half-court defense, but Toronto has been a cut above them.

• All-Stars Pascal Siakam and Kyle Lowry remain the keys for Toronto, just as All-Stars Jayson Tatum and Kemba Walker are at the same positions for Boston. However, Toronto seems to have much more depth, and a clear advantage in height. CLICK FOR LIVE GAME ODDS!

Get all of BetQL's best bets for today's NBA slate! Dating back a full calendar year, our five-star (max-value) bets have won 61% of the time!

Defense Wins Championships

The Boston Celtics have been one of the only teams in the NBA in the top-five in both offensive and defensive rating. The Toronto Raptors have been even more impressive defensively, with their 104.7 defensive rating ranking second to only the East-leading Milwaukee Bucks. Boston ranks near the top of the league in most defensive categories, but nearly every team defensive skill Boston possesses, Toronto can outdo.

The Celtics hold opponents to the fourth-worst field goal and three-point percentages, they allow the second-fewest field goals and assists, and the third-fewest points. On the flip side, he Raptors hold their opponents to the second-worst field goal and three-point percentages, and allow the fewest field goals and points in the league.

Toronto also allow fewer points in transition, points in the paint, and they grab more defensive rebounds. Coach Nick Nurse has his team holding itself accountable on defense, both individually and as a team. They are certainly capable of stopping even the most dynamic offenses, and nobody in the bubble will be surprised if they contend for the title once again.

If you want to roster any Raptors or Celtics players in your DFS lineups tonight, be sure to get a 3-day free trial on RotoQL to check out our projections!

No Shortage Of Star Power

For Boston, the superstar breakout of All-Star Jayson Tatum (averaging 23.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game) and the tremendous improvements of fringe All-Star Jaylen Brown (20.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per contest) have fueled their offense and made everyone forget about last year’s Kyrie Irving fiasco. All-Star Kemba Walker, when healthy, also serves as a main catalyst for their success and he'll be in the thick of things in this matchup.

Toronto has a similar depth chart lineage. Since last year’s Finals MVP, Kawhi Leonard, departed for the Los Angeles Clippers, All-Star forward Pascal Siakam has continued to improve his skillset to become Toronto’s franchise player. Similar to Tatum, Siakam averages 23.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game this season.

Last season's Sixth Man of the Year candidate, Fred VanVleet, keeps improving as well (averaging 17.9 points and 6.7 assists per game). The true leader of this Toronto squad, as is the case in Boston, is its point guard. Kyle Lowry never stops relentlessly attacking opposing defenses and never seems to make the wrong play in the clutch. Since the restart, Lowry has averaged 18.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game. He has shot 44.4 percent from three-point land and 85.1 percent from the free throw line. He has also been an underrated part of the Raptors smothering defense, leading many to believe he deserves at least a Second Team All-Defensive selection.

Deciding Factors: Size and Depth

Besides being a great defensive team compared to Boston’s very good defense, Toronto also has size and depth. The Raptors twin towers, Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka, combine with Siakam to form a massive front court trio. They are long, smart, and instinctive, and serve as the perfect complement to Lowry and VanVleet late in games.

The Raptors also have a deep roster. They boast a whopping eight players with per 36 minute averages above 16 points, and have four players averaging at least 3.3 assists per game.

Norman Powell has looked like a candidate for Most Improved Player and Sixth Man of the Year this season, putting up 16.0 points per game on 49.4 percent shooting, including 39.2 percent from deep. Fellow bench standout OG Anunoby has shot 51.3 percent from the floor and 39.3 percent from three over the season. He has looked superb in the bubble. Anunoby poured in 23 points on 8-of-9 shooting in Toronto's restart-opening win over the Los Angeles Lakers, proving that he’s ready for prime time.

The Celtics were supposed to be a deep squad, but they have proved to be top-heavy. Beyond their top six players, they have been shaky and they remain vulnerable if injuries rear their ugly heads. They don't have the plethora of scoring options that Toronto possesses, nor do they have a quality defense from top to bottom. The edge should go to the Raptors in this contest, as well as this coming postseason.