Raptors will be lucky to win 1 game in NBA East final: experts
Toronto seen as biggest underdog of 4 remaining teams
Does anyone believe the Toronto Raptors can dethrone LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the upcoming Eastern Conference final?
Outside of their loyal fanbase, the consensus answer is a resounding "no."
The outlook for Toronto isn't great. Oddsmakers have already counted them out of the title race at 33-1, but beyond the betting numbers, sports experts across the board predict an easy path to the NBA Finals for King James and company.
ESPN polled 18 experts and not one of them thinks the Raptors can make it further than Game 6. The majority gave Toronto a single win in the series, as 14 see a five-game East final.
Those were the more generous verdicts. Four of the six CBS Sports' experts have Cleveland breezing into the NBA Finals with its third consecutive series sweep.
NBA.com writer Steve Aschburner wrote of his five-game Cavs pick, "Toronto's best shot is to ride its home crowd to one victory."
According to most, the Raptors will need all-star performances from backcourt standouts Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan to even get that much.
Sports Illustrated also thinks Toronto is utterly outmatched when you factor in a healthy Cleveland squad, but the underdogs are still probably capable of a single win.
One thing that most experts agree upon is that the Raptors have exceeded expectations this post-season and that that will be enough for the franchise that is seen more as a striver than an actual contender.