- The 2025-26 NBA playoffs tip off this Saturday, with the Eastern Conference looking to break a recent trend of chalky results and limited first-round upsets.
- The Toronto Raptors enter their series against the Cleveland Cavaliers as a prime candidate for an upset, provided they can force a high-tempo game to disrupt Cleveland’s methodical half-court offence.
- Toronto’s strategy hinges on their league-best transition game and ability to force turnovers, directly challenging the deliberate pace set by Cavaliers floor general James Harden.
- Other key storylines include the Magic’s struggle to generate offence against the top-seeded Pistons and the 76ers’ reliance on a healthy Paul George to challenge the powerhouse Boston Celtics.
- The Atlanta Hawks look to continue their late-season defensive surge, though they face the difficult task of containing Karl-Anthony Towns in their series against the New York Knicks.
Read the full story here: https://www.sportsnet.ca/nba/article/nba-eastern-conference-playoffs-burning-questions-can-raptors-speed-up-cavaliers/
