When the NBA revival begins, the Raptors will have the opportunity to gain momentum towards the playoffs after a very long delay, due to the pandemic.
The eight classification matches will give the defending champions the chance to find some of the rivals who defeated them earlier in the season.
These will be opportunities to catch up or keep a good profile, depending on the opponents.
The Toronto club will first play on Saturday, August 1 at 8:30 p.m., facing the Lakers.
Toronto will also face Miami (August 3), Orlando (August 5), Boston (August 7), Memphis (August 9), Milwaukee (August 10), Philadelphia (August 12) and Denver (August 14).
The Raptors will play in the afternoon against the Heat and against the Grizzlies.
We do not yet know which Canadian networks will televise the meetings.
Overall, the Raptors’ record was 7-8 against their rivals in the classification matches.
The Bucks defeated the Raptors by 10 and 11 points in November and February. As for the Nuggets, they beat Nick Nurse’s group by 15 points in March.
In November, Toronto defeated the Lakers by nine points, ending a streak of seven straight LeBron James and Company wins.
The Heat beat the Raptors twice in two outs. Toronto has swept all three games against the Magic, but has only won once in three against Boston.
The Raptors have not yet played against Memphis; against the 76ers, their record was 2-1. The Canadian team is second in the East, 46-18.
She has a cushion of three games ahead of the Celtics, third. A gain from the Raptors would secure them a place in the top 4.
At the top of the East, the Bucks have six and a half priority games.
All matches, as well as series, will take place at ESPN Wide World of Sports at Disney World, starting July 30.
The 22 relaunched teams are the 16 teams in position to reach the playoffs and the six clubs with a maximum of six games late, opposite to eighth place.
The usual breakage will be used in the event of a tie, at the end of the eight classification matches. They would be used to classify teams for the playoffs.
The first four deadlock breaks are, in order: the percentage of wins against each other; is a formation at the top of its section; the% of victories against the same section (if the teams are in the same section); the% of victories inside the East or the West, as the case may be.
There will be eight classification matches for each of the 22 clubs, starting on July 30.
At the end of the classification matches, the top-7 on each side will qualify for the playoffs.
If the eighth team has more than four priority games, it also automatically enters the playoffs.
If the eighth team is less than four games ahead of the next, these teams will fight for the last available place. Team A should win once; Team B is expected to sign two wins on two occasions.
The heats will take place in the usual formula: four rounds and four of seven each round.
The NBA Finals will end no later than October 13.
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