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TSN Raptors Reporter

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TORONTO - DeMar DeRozan will get his wish after all.

Still uncertain of his team's first round opponent at the time, the Raptors' guard left his locker room following Wednesday's regular season finale. Just before stepping out the door, he looked back and murmured "[expletive], I hope I see Paul Pierce."

The Raptors took care of business, defeating Charlotte 92-87 for their franchise-record 49th win, but Chicago's comeback win over Atlanta an hour later sealed their playoff fate.

Finishing the campaign in fourth place, Toronto will open the postseason against Pierce and the fifth-seeded Washington Wizards, beginning at the Air Canada Centre Saturday afternoon.

Pierce put an end to the Raptors season a year ago, blocking Kyle Lowry's shot at the buzzer to seal a Game 7, first-round win for Brooklyn. Now with Washington, the 17-year vet let loose in a candid ESPN interview this week. In addition to taking shots at his former Nets club and old teammates, Pierce weighed in on the Raptors.

"We haven't done particularly well against Toronto," he said, "but I don't feel they have the 'It' that makes you worried."

The Raptors swept the three-game season series with Washington. Upon hearing Pierce's comments, DeRozan was not amused.

"Paul Pierce has always gotta say something," said the Raptors' leading scorer. "He said something last year [too], he's always got to say something. Just let him talk. I could care less what he says."

"It?," asked Dwane Casey. "Whatever 'It' is. I have to ask Paul what 'It' is. Everybody's got their opinion. If he feels that way about us, or whoever else. That's something we've always [done]. You've got to go out in this league and prove it to people if they don't feel like we have 'It'. We have to find out what 'It' is."

"He'd just better hope Chicago [loses] or whatever's got to happen so he won't see what 'It' is."

With Chicago's win - locking the Bulls into third and a match-up with Milwaukee - DeRozan and the Raptors will get their chance at redemption, an opportunity to show Pierce they have "It", whatever "It" is.

Here's how the series shakes out.

Raptors (4th seed)

Record: 49-33
Offensive rating (points per 100 possessions): 111.0 (4th)
Defensive rating (points allowed per 100 possessions): 107.8 (25th)
Started the season 37-17, since Feb. 20: 12-16
Playoff experience: starters- 59 games, top eight- 123 games (most: Lou Williams - 37)
Last year: finished third, lost first-round series to the Nets in seven games

Notes

- Toronto matched a franchise record for most road wins in a season with 22, previously set last year. They have the best road record in the Eastern Conference over the last two seasons at 44-38.
- The Raptors go into the playoffs having lost 10 of their last 11 games against opponents above .500. They were 15-21 against winning teams on the season.
- With their top eight rotation players healthy, the Raptors were 25-14. Without at least one of those players, they had a record of 24-19.

Wizards (5th seed)

Record: 46-36
Offensive rating: 103.9 (21st)
Defensive rating: 103.0 (5th)
Stated the season 31-15, since Jan. 27: 15-21
Playoff experience: starters- 281 games, top eight- 350 games (most: Paul Pierce - 148)
Last year: finished fifth, won first-round series in five games over Bulls, lost Conference Semifinals to Pacers in six games

Notes

- 46 wins is the most Washington has had in a season since 1978-79
- The Wizards and Raptors franchises have the NBA's two longest active streaks without a 50-win season. It's been 36 years since Washington won 50 games, while Toronto has yet to accomplish that feat in 20 seasons.
- Wizards finished the season 29-12 at Verizon Center, their most wins there since 2004-05 and the third best home record in the Eastern Conference.
- Washington, a top-five defensive team in the NBA, was 39-9 when holding opponents under 100 points
- Had a 9-4 record in games decided by three points or fewer, tops in the East.

Season Series (3-0 Toronto)

103-84 Raptors win in Toronto - Nov. 7
- Raptors hold Wizards to 36 per cent shooting, DeRozan records 11 of his game-high 25 points at the free throw line, Lowry triple-doubles.

120-116 Raptors OT win in Washington - Jan. 31
- Wizards get 54 points from Wall and Beal, outscore Toronto 31-15 to erase a 21-point deficit and force OT where Lowry scores seven of his 23 points to win it for the Raps.

95-93 Raptors win in Toronto - Feb. 11
- Williams scores 13 of his 27 points in the second half to help the Raptors overcome a 10-point third quarter deficit, DeRozan scores 10 of his 23 points at the line.

Matchups

Kyle Lowry (ninth season, 20 career playoff games)
Season stats: 17.7 pts, 4.7 reb, 6.8 ast (10th in NBA), 1.5 stl
vs Wizards: 16.3 pts, 6.0 reb, 6.3 ast, 45% FG

John Wall (fifth season, 11 career playoff games)
Season stats: 17.6 pts, 4.7 reb, 10.0 ast (2nd in NBA), 1.7 stl
vs Raptors: 19.0 pts, 5.0 reb, 9.0 ast, 41% FG, 8.3 FTA

Two months ago Lowry and Wall started alongside each other, representing the Eastern Conference in February's All-Star Game. Now, the two talented point guards make for this series' most compelling match-up. Managing heavy workloads for their respective teams, both players began to wear down - to some degree - towards the end of the season. Uncharacteristically, Wall took a couple games off to rest some nagging ailments this month, while Lowry was sidelined for nine of 10 contests with a back injury. Assuming good health, they - more than anyone else on either club - have the ability to single handedly change the course of this series. Although Wall's jumper is still something of a question mark - he shot 30 per cent from three-point range this season - he's a dynamic player with elite speed, quickness and play making ability, which could prove troublesome for the Raptors, who have struggled to defend on the perimeter all year. Only two teams surrender more points to opposing point guards than Toronto and Wall is one of the toughest covers at the position. Lowry will not be on his own.

DeMar DeRozan (sixth season, seven career playoff games)
Season stats: 20.1 pts, 4.6 reb, 3.5 ast, 7.4 FTA (5th in NBA)
vs Wizards: 21.0 pts, 5.3 reb, 3.3 ast, 38% FG, 10.0 FTA

Bradley Beal (third season, 11 career playoff games)
Season stats: 15.2 pts, 3.7 reb, 3.1 ast, 42% 3P
vs Raptors: 1 game - 26 pts, 3 reb, 4 ast, 53% FG, 50% 3P

Thanks in large part to injury, both DeRozan and Beal have endured frustrating seasons, by their standards. The Wizards' two-guard missed 19 games - including two against Toronto - with wrist and leg ailments while DeRozan sat out 22 with a torn groin tendon, the first serious injury of his career. However, they both seem to be peaking at the right time, playing some of their best basketball entering the playoffs. Since Mar. 1, the Raptors' leading scorer is tops in the Eastern Conference averaging 24.3 points. DeRozan has been rebounding, making plays for teammates, shooting the corner three and closing out games, which could pay major dividends for Toronto if that carries over into the postseason. Meanwhile, Beal is scoring just under 20 points per game in April, his highest of any month this year, shooting 43 per cent from long range over his last four games. DeRozan and the Raps will have to make sure Beal is accounted for at all times. As for DeRozan, his ability to draw fouls and get to the line could be a difference maker in this series. DeRozan attempted at least nine free throws in all three meetings with Washington and should be more comfortable going into his second career playoff series.

Terrence Ross (third season, seven career playoff games)
Season stats: 9.8 pts, 2.8 reb, 38% 3P
vs Wizards: 8.7 pts, 2.3 reb, 50% 3P

Paul Pierce (17th season, 148 career playoff games)
Season stats: 12.1 pts, 4.0 reb, 39% 3P
vs Raptors: 14.7 pts, 5.3 reb, 49% FG, 40% 3P

A familiar match-up and one that hasn't fared too well for Toronto in the past. Pierce isn't the player he once was but his experience and veteran knowhow are not to be taken lightly. It's precisely why Washington brought him on board. Pierce's 148 games of playoff experience is more than the Raptors' eight-man rotation has under their belt, combined. He's strong, crafty and has a knack for hitting big shots. Ross will likely spend time guarding Wall and Beal while DeRozan could draw the Pierce assignment, with James Johnson stepping in off the bench. After looking like a deer in the headlights for most of last year's playoff series with the Nets, Ross has had a disappointing season. Demoted earlier in the campaign, the third-year swingman was reinstalled as a starter with this moment in mind. The Raptors won't be asking for much from Ross and should be expecting even less. But if he's able to defend on the perimeter and hit open shots, he could be an X-factor in this series.

Amir Johnson (10th season, 18 career playoff games)
Season stats: 9.4 pts, 6.1 reb, 58% FG (2nd in NBA)
vs Wizards: 9.7 pts, 5.7 reb, 53% FG

Nene (13th season, 54 career playoff games)
Season stats: 11.0 pts, 5.1 reb, 51% FG
vs Raptors: 12.3 pts, 3.3 reb, 48% FG

Two sneakily important, oft-injured veteran bigs battling ankle issues heading into the postseason. Johnson missed four of the season's final six games, Nene five of seven. If healthy both could have a big impact on this series but, as always, that remains uncertain. Will Nene be in the lineup, will he be playing hard? How will Johnson's wonky ankles hold up and is he physically able to carry his usual workload? The Raptors' undervalued forward was one of the team's top performers in last year's series against the Nets. He's lost a step or two but he's still one of Dwane Casey's most reliable soldiers, particularly on defence where his basketball intellect and knack for being in the right place at the right time has made up for diminishing athleticism. Evident in the games he missed earlier this month, Johnson's presence makes Jonas Valanciunas' job easier. Nene has a similar affect on Marcin Gortat.

Jonas Valanciunas (third season, seven career playoff games)
Season stats: 12.0 pts, 8.7 reb, 1.2 blk, 57% FG (4th in NBA)
vs Wizards: 7.0 pts, 5.3 reb, 56% FG, 20.4 MPG

Marcin Gortat (eighth season, 57 career playoff games)
Season stats: 12.2 pts, 8.8 reb, 1.4 blk, 57% FG (3rd in NBA)
vs Raptors: 6.3 pts, 6.7 reb, 39% FG, 25.9 MPG

Neither centre had much of an impact on the season series. Valanciunas played fewer than 18 minutes in two of the three meetings and Gortat only appeared in one fourth quarter as both teams opted to play small down the stretch. This has been a common source of frustration for both fan bases throughout the season. That's where this match-up gets interesting. How will Casey and Wittman utilize their big men? Valanciunas should have an opportunity to establish himself early in games but the leash isn't likely to be a long one, especially if Wittman goes away from Gortat. Casey has been consistent in his approach, matching up with smaller teams that can spread the floor in late-game situations. That's not likely to change in mid-April. If Valanciunas is going to make his mark on the series he'll have to be at his best.

Key Subs

Lou Williams (10th season, 37 career playoff games)
Season stats: 15.5 pts, 2.0 ast, 34% 3P
vs Wizards: 19.7 pts, 2.0 ast, 49% FG, 39% 3P

Patrick Patterson (fifth season, seven career playoff games)
Season stats: 8.0 pts, 5.4 reb, 37% 3P
vs Wizards: 8.3 pts, 6.3 reb, 40% 3P

Greivis Vasquez (fifth season, 20 career playoff games)
Season stats: 9.5 pts, 3.6 ast, 38% 3P
vs Wizards: 8.3 pts, 2.7 ast, 55% 3P

Kris Humphries (11th season, 16 career playoff games)
Season stats: 7.9 pts, 6.5 reb, 47% FG
vs Raptors: 10.5 pts, 9.5 reb, 40% FG (2 games)

Rasual Butler (12th season, 41 career playoff games)
Season stats: 7.6 pts, 2.6 reb, 38% 3P
vs Raptors: 3.3 pts, 22% 3P

Ramon Sessions (eighth season, 12 career playoff games)
Season stats: 7.1 pts, 3.0 ast, 36% 3P
vs Raptors: 9.5 pts, 3.0 ast (in 2 games with Sacramento)