Toronto Raptors: 5 Must Watch Games on the 2016-17 Schedule
By Demar Grant
4. Toronto Raptors at Boston Celtics
Friday December 9th, 7:30 pm, TD Boston Garden
Rivalry, Jared Sullinger
It’s a shame the first meeting between these two teams is so deep into the season. Boston made a splash this offseason by signing Al Horford, allowing them to set their sights higher in the Eastern Conference — even above the Raptors.
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Jae Crowder claims that, “Toronto is not a team we’re worried about.” After hearing those remarks DeMarre Carroll sniped back saying, “I think it’s a comment from a person who hasn’t been in a playoff situation.”
Not the most scathing words to come out of players’ mouths, but it’s enough to have both teams circling this game on the calendar. This game is more than meets the eye. It can prove to be more than a pithy rivalry game moving forward. The Celts could find themselves vying for seeding against the Raptors later in the season.
Winning games against potential playoff foes offers a mental edge seldom grasped in the NBA. Dominating these regular season games could result in playing a timid Boston in the second round, but losing can also result in facing a swaggering Celtics squad in the postseason.
This should also be a Sullinger revenge game, if he ever gets in shape.
Solid last day at the beach while seeing @Jared_Sully0 #GoBuckeyes pic.twitter.com/N8piQ0vEGY
— jake (@JacobSaffell22) August 6, 2016
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