2018 NBA Playoffs: Toronto Raptors vs. Washington Wizards preview

Despite what the seeding would suggest, the 2018 NBA Playoffs matchup between the Toronto Raptors and Washington Wizards looks to be a possible seven-game series.

After finishing off the best regular season in franchise history with 59 wins, the Toronto Raptors are looking to validate their success with a run to the NBA Finals.

Led by All-Star guards Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan, Toronto possesses one of the best backcourts in the league, capable of carrying them to victory on any given night.

What has made the Raptors truly dangerous this season has been the play of their second unit. Led by second-year point guard Fred VanVleet, Toronto’s bench ranks fourth in scoring and sixth in assists, giving them more options to work with over the course of 48 minutes.

The Washington Wizards limp into the playoffs with a 3-7 record over their final 10 games, a stretch that saw the return of All-Star point guard John Wall after knee surgery kept him out over a month.

Many have wondered if Wall is the one holding the Wizards back, citing his tendency to hold the ball and hunt for assists instead of moving it around the perimeter. Despite the criticism, Wall and fellow All-Star Bradley Beal make up a terrifying backcourt, capable of shredding even the most elite defenses.

For Toronto, past postseason failures have made some hesitant to predict a run to the Finals, while Washington’s inconsistent play at times makes them hard to believe in as well.

The teams split their four regular season games, which gives an advantage to Washington, as Wall didn’t play in any of them.

Something to watch will be possible bad blood brewing between the two sides, as Washington swept Toronto out of the playoffs in 2015. Despite the seeding, this matchup pits two elite backcourts against each other in what is sure to be a compelling series.