Celtics Talk Podcast: Do the Celtics have the Raptors' number?

Share

Pretty much everything went right for the Boston Celtics in their Game 1 rout of the Toronto Raptors.

The C's steamrolled the second-seeded Raptors 112-94 Sunday in a game that was more lopsided than the final score suggests. Jayson Tatum and Marcus Smart led the team with 21 points apiece, Kemba Walker and Jaylen Brown added 18 and 17 points respectively, Daniel Theis notched a double-double with 10 points and 15 rebounds, and Robert Williams was a beast off the bench with 10 points and five boards in 19 minutes.

It isn't the first time Boston has dominated Toronto this month. The C's blew out the Raptors 122-100 back on Aug. 7 in the Orlando bubble and also took two of their previous three matchups this season.

So as we prepare for Game 2, is it fair to say the Celtics have the Raptors' number? A. Sherrod Blakely, Chris Forsberg, and Kyle Draper discussed on a brand new episode of the Celtics Talk Podcast.

Celtics Talk Podcast: Reacting to Boston’s Game 1 win: Do the Celtics have the Raptors’ number? | Listen & subscribe | Watch on YouTube

"The last two games are as close as both teams have been to being fully intact, which is very different than those first three games," Blakely said. "This is really the true Celtics, the true Raptors that we're seeing ... [Toronto] has had two chances with their full squad and last I checked, [Boston] smashed them both games.

"Do I think [the Celtics] are 17 points better [than the Raptors]? No. But they played at least 17 points better when they've had most of their crew intact and Toronto has had most of their crew intact."

Forsberg is on the same page, noting the C's ability to ramp up the intensity after the series' postponement as impressive.

"After the Philly series, I was a lot more bullish on the Celtics' chances. It's part of the reason I picked the Celtics in 7. ... 

"I'm way more impressed with what the Celtics have done. I kind of went 'OK, they don't have Gordon [Hayward], maybe Toronto's the favorite in this series.' ... Just did not expect a lopsided game in Game 1. Maybe we could look back and say 'Ah, it was fools gold,' but this time of year you've got to come with it. And the fact the Celtics were that laser-focused is really impressive and speaks a lot to the coaching staff having them ready."

As for Draper? He isn't as convinced just yet of the Celtics being the better team. We'll find out more during Game 2 on Tuesday night.

Also discussed on the new episode: Overreactions to Boston’s dominant Game 1 win, what did the C's do defensively that they can build off of? What adjustments do we expect Toronto to make in Game 2? and much more.

Check out the latest episode of the Celtics Talk Podcast on your favorite podcast app or watch it on YouTube below.

Contact Us