NBA playoffs news

Who will advance to the second round of the NBA playoffs? We polled the ESPN Forecast panel of experts and a panel of fans.

Here are the results, along with predictions from ESPN's Basketball Power Index (BPI), FiveThirtyEight and PredictWise.

2) Raptors VS. (7) PacersTOR (%)IND (%)ESPN 

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TORONTO -- It was an all-too-familiar scene in Toronto: the buildup to the playoffs, the letdown in Game 1 at home, and the unwanted questions that followed.

For three straight years now, the Toronto Raptors have increased their regular-season win total, only to find themselves facing an 0-1, first-round series deficit.

Their passionate fans brought it as usual -- making Air Canada Centre come to life both inside and out on Maple Leaf Square -- but their players failed to put together any consistent stretches of quality basketball.

And of course there was that Raptor killer on the other team named Paul -- only this time his last name was George, not Pierce.

Paul George, doing his best Paul Pierce impersonation in this very building, had more points in the second half (27) than Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan did combined in four quarters (25) as the Pacers stole home-court advantage from Toronto with a 100-90 win on Saturday afternoon.

The Raptors are now 0-8 in playoff openers and have lost seven consecutive postseason games -- all in which they had a better won-loss record than their opponent. They shot 38 percent from the field, went 4-for-19 from 3-point range, missed 12 free throws and committed 19 turnovers.

As a team as a whole, we were tight offensively,” Toronto coach Dwane Casey said. “And that frustration carried over to the defensive end, and you can’t do that. It’s a long series. I know the percentages, all the numbers, all that bullc---. It’s a long series and I know our team didn’t play to our identity, but I know we’ll come back Monday night and play more to our identity.”

Lowry and DeRozan combined to shoot 8-for-32 from the field and committed nine turnovers.

“I don’t think we showed any tentativeness,” said Lowry, who averaged just 12 points on 32 percent shooting against the Wizards last postseason. “I think we missed some shots and we had some open looks.

“We’re good. It’s one game,” added Lowry, who said his recently sore right elbow was fine following a 3-for-13 outing in which he missed five freebies at the charity stripe. “It’s not last year; we’re very positive. We’re very confident. We just have to go out there and do what we know how to do.”

George finished with 33 points after shooting 2-for-9 in the first half. He also played strong defense on DeRozan, holding the Toronto swingman to 14 points.

“I’ve never had a problem with a guy guarding me. I always take on the challenge,” DeRozan said. “I can’t have a great shooting night every night, and I’m pretty sure I won’t go 5-for-19 again.”

With forward DeMarre Carroll, known for his aggressive defense, still on a minutes restriction, the Raptors had no answers for George late.

“It’s tough when he gets it going like that,” said Carroll, who logged 19 minutes off the bench. “What I’ve experienced in this league when a guy gets hot is you have to find a way to slow him down, but it’s tough.”

The Raptors can take solace in the fact that they were right in it until the end despite playing so poorly.

Jonas Valanciunas was an absolute force inside -- securing a franchise playoff-record 19 rebounds (11 on the offensive end) to go along with 12 points before fouling out (a couple of those calls were “cheap,” Casey said) -- while reservesCory Joseph (18 points) and Patrick Patterson (9 points, 6 rebounds) impressed. And aside from George, the Pacers sport a pretty inconsistent supporting cast.

Still, it wasn’t the result Toronto wanted. Not after back-to-back opening-round ousters.

The pressure will only mount from here; granted the Raptors do have plenty of experience dealing with adversity.

How they respond will determine whether they finally get over the hump.

“I knew we were going to be a little tight just by the playoffs being here,” Casey said. “Everyone’s making such a big thing about it. Our guys are being prideful, they understand the moment. But again, it wasn’t us.

“I hadn’t seen us play that tentative on the offensive end all year. That will change. I hope our guys don’t listen to the noise. If we do, shame on us. It’s a long series.”

The players insist this time will be different. Now, it’s on Lowry and DeRozan to prove it.

“We’re not panicking. We understand that we just played bad,” DeRozan said. “We played terrible at home and we understand that we have to go on the road and get one, and we just have to take care of home on Monday.

“We didn’t tell ourselves that we’re going 4-0. We understand that it’s not going to be easy, and we understand that it’s going to be a challenge. We just have to get Monday.”

Wie sal vooraf die tweede ronde van die NBA was Pleoffs Tablet? Hulle was Pole Aspen voorspelling paneel, en 'n paneel van kundiges Uitgesluit Uitgesonderd vasgekeer.

Hier was die resultate Hey, saam met Men's Basketball voorspellings na aanleiding van Aspen Power-indeks (BPI), Fivetirtyit en Prediktvise.

Ii) teen Raptrs (Vii) Pasrstor (%) en (%) Aspen

Toronto - 'n all-jy-Fmiliar bors IT habitat in Toronto is dan gebruik Pleoffs opbou, Letdun hierdie speletjies was so 'n huis, en is Folloved Ongewenste Vrae THT.

Nou vir drie agtereenvolgende jare, hul gereelde-seisoen wen totale was die Toronto Raptrs het 'n Inkrised, net voor die Fonds Hulself finale 0-1, die eerste ronde reeks tekort.

Hul passie vasgekeer het ons Gewone IT - maak die lewe Beide die Air Canada Centre, Maple Leaf Square se binne en buite - Maar hul spelers het misluk saamgestel VAN strek ander konsekwente gehalte basketbal.

En natuurlik Vas rus plek Rptor Daar was span ander moordenaar se naam van Paulus - Sy naam alleen is hierdie tyd George habitat, nie Pierce.

Paul George, Paul Pierce doen sy bes verpersoonliking van hierdie is die vyand gebou, die omvang of meer punte in die tweede helfte (sewe en twintig) en Demar Derozn plaasgevind het Kyle Luryr gekombineer hierdie vier hoeke (vyf en twintig) huis-hof voordeel gesteel uit Toronto met ons Pasrs was 'n Saterdagmiddag se 100-90 oorwinning.

Hey nou 0-8 in playoff openers Raptrs verlore gegaan en het 'n drankie Konsekutive Postsson speletjies - al waarin hulle Wen-verliesrekords 'n beter plek Hul Opponent mate. Hulle het agt en dertig persent van die veld, het vier-for-negentien van drie-punt reeks, gemis gratis Thros en Kmited negentien omkeerbesit XII.

SA span Deel die Full vals, hulle Vere Offensiveli stywe, "afrigter Toronto gesê Dvne hoe. "Hy was 'n verdedigende einde en wattel Fristrtion gedra ons oor, en die oorlog van die twee N'ti versiering. Dis 'n lang reeks. E was Knov Persentages, was almal getalle, al pragtig aangetrek Bulle ---. Dis 'n lang reeks & E Knov Ons span het jy N'ti ons identiteit, e Knov speel, maar hy is terug Ek sal Maandag Nag het en Play Meer ons identiteit. "

Luryr en Derozn gekombineer uit die veld en skiet agt-vir-twee en dertig omkeerbesit Kmited Nege.

"E twee N'ti dink hulle ander Tenttiveness Soved," sê Lori, net XII Averged Hu se punte was teen twee en dertig Vizards Laaste Postsson persent skiet. "E dink hulle selfs oop skote gemis en hulle lyk nog 'n bietjie.

"Ons is goed. Dit is een wedstryd, "het Lori, Hu het gesê sy regterelmboog habitat Onlangs Seer fyn uitstappie in XIII Na 'n drie-vir-vyf Fribis wat dus mis die liefde streep O. "Dit is nie gehaal; Ons is baie positief. Ons is vol vertroue. Daar buite en dan het hy moet net 'n twee Knov wat hulle twee. "

George klaar met twee-vir-nege van hulle is strek grense punte nadat dit geskiet is in die eerste helfte. Ag ek ook Derozn Plaad sterk verdediging Om, hou punte is drie keer benoem vir die Toronto Svingmn.

"Guarding E've nooit gesing in 'n bietjie van 'n probleem met. E was s altyd Tech Challenge, "Derozn kant. "Dit moet 'n f N'ti In elke aand is 'n groot skiet nag, Surrey E & E'm Pretty N'ti hulle gaan weer vyf-for-negentien."

Vorentoe Demrre met Carroll, nie-vir-Sy aggressiewe verdediging, steeds op 'n beperking minute, was geen antwoorde vir George lê Raptrs mate.

"Wanneer dit Harde bene O Gates het dit rus plek," sê Carroll, Hu is aangemeld van die bank af negentien minute. "Wat is dit liga in E've Aksperiansed Wanneer die Hot Gates sing die VSA het 'n fonds wat hulle het 'n stadige hom af, maar dit is moeilik."

Hulle was in werklikheid Sols Tech Kain Raptrs is dit rus plek op die regte manier tot aan die einde Ondanks speel Vere Purli slaap.

Jonas Walnkiuns 'n absolute Force Binne habitat - 'n franchise playoff-rekord negentien Sekyuring Rebunds (XI was s Offensief en) dan gaan saam met dalende Voordat XII wys daarop ( 'n paar stewige Oproepe uitgesluit was "goedkoop," Hoe Side) - Terwyl Resserveskry Joseph (agtien punte) en Patrick Patterson (nege punte, ses Rebunds) beïndruk. En afgesien van George, was 'n mooi Inknsistent Pasrs Sport ondersteunende stemme.

Tog, dit was 'n gevolg Toronto wou N'ti habitat. Nie ná rug-aan-rug opening ronde Ostrs.

Van hier sal die druk net berg; Baie toegestaan ​​Raptrs twee behoeftes 'n Tablet ervaring wat handel oor die nood.

Hoe om te bepaal of hulle hulle reageer slotte die bult van die poort.

"E-Bay is 'n bietjie styf net Knev dan is hulle gaan Vere Pleoffs Om hier" Hoe hartseer. "Almal is 'n groot ding oor mans se maak dit Suc. Ons wese Hovaardige Hey Guys, Hulle was die oomblik dat jy verstaan. Maar weereens, dat dit N'ti habitat.

"E mate N'ti Offensief en Sean was op die Play All Year Tnttve wattel. Sal wattel verander. Ons ouens was twee N'ti Noiz hoop jy luister. As die twee, dit is skandelik. Dis 'n lang reeks. "

Verskillende spelers was Dring is hierdie keer as ek wil. NOU, dit is op Luryr en Derozn Bewys dit dan.

"Ons Paniking knope. Net nadat hulle Plaad hulle rus plek te verstaan, "Derozn kant. "En hulle Plaad Verskriklike rus plek verstaan ​​die behoeftes van 'n huis en hulle was dan is Road en Gate Een, en hy moet net 'n Tablet Home se Maandag so sorg.

"Het hulle N'ti Vertel onsself gaan 4-0 versiering. Dis nie maklik Wattle Bay verstaan ​​hulle gaan, en hulle het gaan verstaan ​​rus plek dis 'n uitdaging Bay. Hy moet net 'n hek Maandag. "