The Raptors reek of tank.
JV and Ross' extended playing time, along with Dwane Casey expressing interest in sitting Rudy Gay for the season (he'll play tonight), can mean one thing, and one thing only: the Raptors are going 100% tank-mode to finish the season.
It's been hotly debated over the last few weeks whether or not the Raptors should tank, but the reality is, like-it-or-not, the tank is happening, and there's nothing we can do about it.
Enter Atlanta Hawks.
Tonight's opponent, the perennial 6th seeded Atlanta Hawks, have had a tough month, losing nine of their last 15 games, including defeats at the hands of Phoenix and Portland. Jeff Teague, Al Horford and Josh Smith are the 'big three' in Atlanta, but they don't have much talent behind them, with an inconsistent group of role players filling in from the bench. Atlanta currently sits sixth in the East, with Milwaukee and Boston chasing their tale, and Chicago and Brooklyn shortly ahead of them. The difference between a six and a five seed is enormous, with a playoff match up against the Pacers on the line.
Last season, 'tanking' included beating Atlanta, Boston, Denver and New York late in the season, so a win for the Hawks is not a forgone conclusion.
GO TOP 3 PICK!!