Raptors Analysis: The Pride of a Nation

The Toronto Raptors are looking to lock up a playoff seed in the East this year, and it seems like it should be a fairly easy feat. The Raptors are the only team in the NBA from north of the border, and Canada could not be prouder of its collective sons. The Raptors are starting to look like a force in the East, something that hasn't been said about the team for quite a while. The Breakdown: The Raptors are sitting pretty as the fifth seed in the East currently, and should easily be able to hold off the Wizards, Sixers, and Hawks. With that being said, the Raptors have the tools to make somewhat of a run this year in the playoffs, especially with the emergence of second-year guard Jose Calderon. In his 48 starts for the injury-plagued T.J. Ford, Calderon has averaged 13.6 PPG, 9.4 APG, 3.3 RPG, and 1.2 SPG. Not bad for an undrafted international project. Chris Bosh is once again playing at his All-Star level, and statistically, he has fallen off a bit from last year (22.6 PPG, 8.9 RPG ... [link]