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TORONTO — The Toronto Raptors' postseason fate – in the short term, anyway – was out of their hands.
Fitting, in a way. The Raptors have stumbled and bumbled and generally avoided owning up to their subpar season and a long late-season slump, robbing them of any chance at home court in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
Even last night, Chris Bosh thanked the crowd before the game last night for their support in what he called “a good season.” Head coach Sam Mitchell cited the team's injuries and said he thought the team had “an unbelievable year.”
While that might be an optimistic assessment, a good playoff result could make any of the Raptors' regular-season struggles fade away quickly.
Toronto Raptors' Chris Bosh glares at Miami Heat' Joel Anthony during first half during NBA action in Toronto Monday, April 14, 2008. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)
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With that in mind and their 91-75 win over the lowly Miami Heat in the books, the Raptors gathered in their dressing room to watch the final minutes of the Philadelphia 76ers game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
A win by Philadelphia would have made the Raptors' season finale against the Chicago Bulls tomorrow night vital if they hoped to hold off the 76ers for the sixth seed and a trip to Disney World to play the Orlando Magic.
Tellingly, a cheer went up in the dressing room after the Cleveland Cavaliers' Devin Brown hit two free throws with less than a second on the clock to win the game.
And telling was the Raptors' reasoning for their celebration. “It takes a lot of pressure off the Wednesday game,” Toronto captain Chris Bosh said. “Going in knowing that we have the sixth spot is good.”
It's been a long time since the Raptors have faced pressure, let alone played well under the weight.
The Raptors have won three of their past four games, but have won only two games against playoff-bound teams since Feb. 1.
On the strength of last season's six-game, first-round loss to the New Jersey Nets, however, the Raptors hope they'll be able to raise their game in the NBA's championship tournament after a regular season that saw them fall well short of defending their Atlantic Division title or improving on last season's 47-win total, not to mention limping to a 12-18 record after the all-star break.
“I wouldn't say guys play harder,” head coach Sam Mitchell said. “But in their mind, knowing that in x amount of games the season's over, when you add the pressure, add the spotlight, it's more intense.
“You try to tell players about it, but they don't really believe you,” Mitchell said. “So last year was good for us, we got to experience it for the first time and, hopefully, this time around our guys feel a little more at ease and understand what it's all about.”
By hanging on to the sixth seed, the Raptors draw the Magic, who are 50-30 and have been the third best team in the East behind powerhouses Boston and Detroit.
Like the Raptors, the Magic are young team with limited playoff experience, having been swept in four games by the Detroit Pistons last season.
“Everybody is pretty fresh,” Bosh said. “There's not that playoff-savvy veteran, except for [Raptors centre Rasho Nesterovic]. The whole series is a lot of young guys playing and trying to get some experience.”
The marquee matchup will feature two of the NBA's most accomplished young big men.
The Magic feature centre Dwight Howard, a two-time all-star at the age of 22 who is averaging 20.9 points and an NBA-best 14.3 rebounds this season.
But Bosh, a three-time all-star at 24, often saves his best games for the Magic. He averaged 33 points a game against them this season in two starts and 34.3 points against them in three games last season.
Of course, the Raptors have had little answer for Howard, who averaged 24.3 points and 12.7 rebounds against them as the Magic won two of the three meetings between the teams.
Mitchell said he plans to give his starters reduced minutes against Chicago with an eye toward keeping them rested and healthy for the postseason.
Last night, his team trailed the Heat by four points at halftime, but Toronto rallied to hold Miami to 35.3-per-cent shooting in the second half as they pulled away.
Toronto shot 46.3 per cent. Nesterovic continued his strong play as he led the Raptors with 20 points and seven rebounds. Jason Kapono was a bright spot off the bench, scoring in double figures with 11 for the first time in 14 games.
