Will The Raptors be ready for the playoff

The Toronto Raptors who equaled the franchise record for most road victories (20) and with 8 games left in the 2013-14 season they are equal with the Chicago Bulls (42-32) for third in the Eastern Conference. The Raptors will diffidently need to play a 48 minute game and right now they are lucky to play shutdown D in just over half a game. The Raptors put up maybe their biggest fight of the season against the Miami Heat tonight in a 93-83 loss which was a lot closer than the final score indicated as the Heat got a lot of chances from the line to get back in the game as the Raps were up 10 half way through the second quarter and in the first half the Heat got 15 free throws while the Raps got 3 of them. In the second half the Heat and Raptors both had 7 free throws and the Raps down double digits they fought back to a 3 point game and that was without Kyle Lowry did not play the fourth quarter as LBJ came down after taken down a board and completely wiped out Lowry who was holding his knee. I believe that Lowry as he working for a big payday is a warrior and will continue to play through the pain just like Amir Johnson has been doing all season. Patrick Patterson came back and played for the first time in a long time and played 8 minutes and was great addition to the lineup. The Raptors were last in the playoffs in '08 and only four players are left in the NBA from the team and none are left on the Raps and DeRozan was about to receive his high school diploma. So the Raps are inexperienced but they will get some experience and if they are able to hold off the Bulls for third and the Brooklyn Nets (2 behind) for the Atlantic division. It will be up to guys like DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry to lead the offence for the Raptors while Terrence Ross will need to be the shutdown defender against their opponent. While the Raps will need guys off the bench give the team a push while the starters get a blow on the bench and hopefully Dwayne Casey will put together a great game plan just like he did with the Mavs and got a NBA title which is hard to do. Then it will be up to the players to get the job done. Hopefully there are still good times for the Raptors Tom Mehegan