The world champion Toronto Raptors are not the Raptors of the present. However, few teams have the organizational fortitude to handle the free agent departure of a superstar and live to see another winning season. After a down year in 2020, the Raptors bounced back to playoff basketball.
Their 48-34 record last season was good for fifth in the Eastern Conference. They fell in the first round of the playoffs to the Philadelphia 76ers, but few were disappointed in the season’s outcome. A preseason win/loss total of 35.5 was blown out of the water, and development of key young players was witnessed.
For that, it’s important to thank head coach Nick Nurse. He’s consistently over-performed the expectations set for Toronto. With an over/under of 46.5 (FanDuel), expectations are a bit higher this time around. Will they step up to the task?
Toronto May Have a Winning Lottery Ticket
Part of Nurse’s success last year was a direct result of the development of Scottie Barnes, the fourth overall selection in the 2021 NBA draft.
He’s not the shooter most stars of this generation are, but he offers a well-rounded game that’s bound for a few all-star appearances. To showcase an advanced sense of playmaking and rebounding, along with defense gives the Raptors hope that they can take their next step.
Given his size and set of skills, further offensive development can render Barnes transcendent. It’s a profile worth banking on.
How will the Raptors attack this season?
To complement Barnes, Toronto has surrounded him with some legitimate offensive threats.
Fred VanVleet made himself a known name during that magical finals run. He remains the strongest scorer in their backcourt and isn’t a liability on the defensive end, either. That trend of tough defense continues with Pascal Siakam and Chris Boucher. Siakam has seen significant ups and downs throughout his Canadian career, but gives them a blend of inside scoring and playmaking. Boucher, when on the floor, is a traditional center that strictly fills the role of interior tone setter.
Gary Trent Jr. will assist the offensive charge, though we shouldn’t expect many assists out of him. He’s a one-dimensional scoring threat who has the upside to win Toronto games on a good night.
A more complete option is O.G. Anunoby, a former first round pick. He lacks the upside of Barnes, and isn’t the scoring threat Trent is. Still, Anunoby feels very much like a “glue guy” that solves the problems that the Raptors’ roster will put on the floor.
It’s clear Nurse values the balance of defense and scoring. Four of their five starters project to be plus defenders. They lack true all-world scorers, but have the defensive depth to keep games close. When the structure of the offense is being executed well, they shouldn’t see many problems putting up points.
Is Toronto playoff bound?
If Vegas is any indication, playoff teams should pack their passports with them.
FanDuel has Toronto at -250 to make the playoffs, the seventh-best odds in the conference. They are also +130 to make the play-in tournament, a mini round that completes the playoff bracket.
Unless you are particularly high on an Eastern Conference bottom feeder, the only thing in the Raptors’ way is an internal implosion. With Nurse at the helm, it’s safe to assume that won’t happen.
Toronto is +2100 to win the East. Expect those odds to shrink once Scottie Barnes polishes his offensive game, even if playing in the season’s final series is ultimately too tall of a task.