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  3. article_body => "<p>With the Boston Celtics holding a commanding 2-0 series lead over Toronto, it\u2019s clear the Raptors have to make some changes.&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Doug Smith, longtime Toronto Raptors beat writer for the Toronto Star, has an idea.&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>\u201cI\u2019d start Serge (Ibaka) over (Marc) Gasol,\u201d Smith said on the Celtics Talk Podcast.&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>While that certainly would provide a jolt offensively to the Toronto starting lineup, it also means Gasol would come off the bench and be matched up with Robert Williams III, who has been among the most productive backups in this series.&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>After having scored a total of six points in his first 12 playoff games, Williams has tallied double figures in each of his last two games.&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Having the uber-athletic Williams matched up with the slower-footed Gasol might be a big enough caution flag for Toronto head coach Nick Nurse to bypass making that change and look to make another adjustment elsewhere.&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h5><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/boston\/celtics\/celtics-now-are-2020-nba-title-favorites-according-one-prediction-model?int\">Are C's title favorites? One prediction model thinks so<\/a><\/h5>\r\n\r\n<p>But as Smith pointed out, the Raptors are the defending NBA champions and won it all in part by displaying an elite level of mental toughness when adversity struck - similar to the hole they now find themselves in.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>And while Smith still thinks this best-of-seven series has \u201ca little bit of juice\u201d left to it, the only way this can become a series again is if Toronto addresses its thirst for success with a Game 3 win.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>\u201cThey do have that mental resiliency,\u201d said Smith, who added, \u201cI think they can (make it a series again) but these are odd and strange times.\"<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>He added, \u201cif they lose on Thursday (in Game 3), you might as well get the plane there Friday noon because they\u2019ll be home by Sunday morning.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h5><strong>&nbsp;Celtics Talk Podcast: Raptors reeling; are C's title contenders?&nbsp;| <a href=\"https:\/\/link.chtbl.com\/RJkwuSSg\">Listen &amp; subscribe<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/TJVIRAGxdlE\">Watch on YouTube<\/a><\/strong><\/h5>\r\n\r\n<drupal-url data-embed-button=\"url\" data-embed-url=\"https:\/\/art19.com\/shows\/celtics-talk\/episodes\/327ab12e-8af6-40d8-9485-90cf1482e6a3\" data-entity-label=\"Embed social\" data-timestamp=\"1599071737\" data-url-provider=\"ART19\"><\/drupal-url>\r\n\r\n<p>One of the biggest surprises for Smith and the Raptors has been the scoring of Marcus Smart.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>An all-NBA Defensive First Team member a year ago, it has been Smart\u2019s shooting that has factored heavily in Boston\u2019s 2-0 series lead which is part of a flawless 6-0 record in the playoffs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>In the two games against the Raptors, Smart is averaging 20.0 points on 52.2 shooting from the field and 55 percent shooting (11-for-20) from 3-point range.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>\u201cMarcus Smart turned into Larry Bird, which was kind of an unexpected thing in game 2,\u201d quipped Smith, who&nbsp;added that Nurse had said prior to the series that Smart was a bit of a wild card. \u201cAnd now the wild card is an ace. And you hope it\u2019s a two and it hasn\u2019t been.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>If that continues, this series will be over and Toronto\u2019s reign in the NBA will be a short-lived one.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>And for Smith, that would mean the Celtics would be on their way to a&nbsp;return to the NBA Finals.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h5><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/boston\/celtics\/celtics-get-bunch-smart-plays-game-2-win-over-toronto?int\">Blakely: C's get a lot of 'Smart' plays in Game 2 win<\/a><\/h5>\r\n\r\n<p>While Milwaukee had the best record in the NBA this season, Smith feels the Miami Heat will win that&nbsp;series before losing to either the Celtics or the Raptors in the Eastern Conference Finals.&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>\"They are a great team,\" Smith said. \"I\u2019m not sure they can make the necessary adjustments in a seven-game series to win it. There's just something about the Bucks \u2026 I don\u2019t think they\u2019re tough enough. I don\u2019t think they are mentally tough enough to beat Boston or Toronto or Miami.\"&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>But for now, much of the attention in the East is on the Celtics-Raptors series that's only two games in and already at a pivotal turning point for the defending NBA champion Raptors, who are in a world of trouble right now.&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>\u201cThey (Raptors) have to do something to juice everybody, different matchups, different looks,\u201d Smith said. \u201cBecause what they are doing now ain\u2019t working.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n"
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  21. description => "In their last 18 games, the Raptors are 0-3 against the Celtics -- and 15-0 against the rest of the NBA. A. Sherrod Blakely takes a look at how the C's have succeeded against the defending champs."
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Celtics Insider

/ by A. Sherrod Blakely
Celtics Insider

A. Sherrod Blakely

Celtics Insider

With the Boston Celtics holding a commanding 2-0 series lead over Toronto, it’s clear the Raptors have to make some changes. 

Doug Smith, longtime Toronto Raptors beat writer for the Toronto Star, has an idea. 

“I’d start Serge (Ibaka) over (Marc) Gasol,” Smith said on the Celtics Talk Podcast. 

While that certainly would provide a jolt offensively to the Toronto starting lineup, it also means Gasol would come off the bench and be matched up with Robert Williams III, who has been among the most productive backups in this series. 

After having scored a total of six points in his first 12 playoff games, Williams has tallied double figures in each of his last two games. 

Having the uber-athletic Williams matched up with the slower-footed Gasol might be a big enough caution flag for Toronto head coach Nick Nurse to bypass making that change and look to make another adjustment elsewhere. 

Are C's title favorites? One prediction model thinks so

But as Smith pointed out, the Raptors are the defending NBA champions and won it all in part by displaying an elite level of mental toughness when adversity struck - similar to the hole they now find themselves in.

And while Smith still thinks this best-of-seven series has “a little bit of juice” left to it, the only way this can become a series again is if Toronto addresses its thirst for success with a Game 3 win.

“They do have that mental resiliency,” said Smith, who added, “I think they can (make it a series again) but these are odd and strange times."

 

He added, “if they lose on Thursday (in Game 3), you might as well get the plane there Friday noon because they’ll be home by Sunday morning.”

 Celtics Talk Podcast: Raptors reeling; are C's title contenders? | Listen & subscribe | Watch on YouTube

One of the biggest surprises for Smith and the Raptors has been the scoring of Marcus Smart.

An all-NBA Defensive First Team member a year ago, it has been Smart’s shooting that has factored heavily in Boston’s 2-0 series lead which is part of a flawless 6-0 record in the playoffs.

In the two games against the Raptors, Smart is averaging 20.0 points on 52.2 shooting from the field and 55 percent shooting (11-for-20) from 3-point range.

“Marcus Smart turned into Larry Bird, which was kind of an unexpected thing in game 2,” quipped Smith, who added that Nurse had said prior to the series that Smart was a bit of a wild card. “And now the wild card is an ace. And you hope it’s a two and it hasn’t been.”

If that continues, this series will be over and Toronto’s reign in the NBA will be a short-lived one.

And for Smith, that would mean the Celtics would be on their way to a return to the NBA Finals.

Blakely: C's get a lot of 'Smart' plays in Game 2 win

While Milwaukee had the best record in the NBA this season, Smith feels the Miami Heat will win that series before losing to either the Celtics or the Raptors in the Eastern Conference Finals. 

"They are a great team," Smith said. "I’m not sure they can make the necessary adjustments in a seven-game series to win it. There's just something about the Bucks … I don’t think they’re tough enough. I don’t think they are mentally tough enough to beat Boston or Toronto or Miami." 

But for now, much of the attention in the East is on the Celtics-Raptors series that's only two games in and already at a pivotal turning point for the defending NBA champion Raptors, who are in a world of trouble right now. 

“They (Raptors) have to do something to juice everybody, different matchups, different looks,” Smith said. “Because what they are doing now ain’t working.”