Die Toronto Raptors 4.5 games separate them from a playoff spot in the East just under halfway through the regular season. The season is at a crossroads at the start of a six-game home streak. In the previous year, there was a positive turnaround. It’s interesting Situation especially because the Canadians’ actions before the trade deadline might be a first domino for the entire league.
At first glance it seems that Situation Comparable to around a year ago: In 2021, the Raptors opened with six wins in a row and thus managed to experience a positive turn in a bumpy season that was also characterized by knowledge. Suddenly there was a positive balance, more runs of 8-0 before and 13-4 following the All-Star break followed and at the end of the regular season the Canadians were even in 6th place in the East.
Toronto Raptors: Mediocre and no end in sight?
This positive end to the season, even if the six-game defeat in the first round of the playoffs followed once morest the Sixers, might have been one of the reasons that the Raptors are now where they are – in mediocrity and at a crossroads, which is dying direction of the franchise in the coming years. Because the expectations that those responsible had of the squad were certainly different than the performance on the field reflects.
We too SPOX were positive with regard to the over/under of 46.5 wins given by the bookmakers and went over (quote: “Once once more someone is talking regarding Toronto – a mistake. The Raptors are well-rehearsed, have young players with potential (Barnes, Trent, Anunoby) and two All-Star calibers (FVV, Siakam).”). In order to actually reach the value of 47 games, 31 wins in the 44 games would have to come. That’s just hard to believe.
The loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday heralded a series of six parties at the Scotiabank Arena, following which officials, players and fans should have a clearer view of what is still possible in the current season from a sporting point of view – especially since there is no opponent from the Top shelf is (2x Hornets, Knicks, Hawks, Blazers). A few victories are a must before the game plan becomes more difficult once more. Compared to January last year, the balance is a little worse, the season is a little further along – and the pressure on the decision-makers is significantly higher.
Offensive rating 17th (112.3), defensive rating 13th (112.4), net rating 16th – values that symbolize absolute average and give little reason for anything to change. Franchise player Pascal Siakam, who has career highs in points (25.9) and assists (6.6) with only mixed efficiency, the events seem familiar: “In every game it feels like we have a good opportunity to turn the tide — an excellent one, actually.” At the same time, Siakam’s train of thought suggests that the Raptors aren’t doing well enough.
There hasn’t been a run of three wins in a row this season, in the past 13 games only successes have been achieved in New York and Cleveland and once morest decimated suns. After a defeat once morest Memphis, the preferably level-headed head coach Nick Nurse burst at the collar, at the press conference he launched an all-round attack once morest his team and criticized the basic characteristics that every player and especially a player of the physically uncomfortable Raptors should bring with them.
Raptors: “It can’t get any worse”
“Unacceptable” was the effort that his men showed at 106:119, in which stumbling grizzlies gained self-confidence, dominated the zone (70:50 points) and, in addition to Nurse, a frustrated Siakam also picked up a technical foul. “We have to focus and seriously think regarding playing harder. It can’t get any worse.” After their own free throws, the opponent might have scored with a simple pass on the other side – plays that, according to the Nurse, “may happen maybe once in seven years”.
„Blow it up Territory“ namens Kevin O’Connor (The ringtone) in December the situation in which Toronto finds itself. As indicators, he gave the small gap to the dregs of the league (only five teams are currently worse), the hopelessness of chasing playoff success and the fact that there are veterans who might achieve lucrative value on the trade market . Nothing changed regarding that. According to O’Connor, this doesn’t have to be a bad thing, serious is a framework with talented players available with which a radical upheaval along the lines of the Sixers might be prevented – retooling instead of rebuilding.
A first date that might be important for such a retooling would be February 9th – the trade deadline. Then it will become clear to what extent Raptors President Masai Ujiri and General Manager Bobby Webster have confidence in the current roster and the direction they are taking. “It’s all regarding winning a championship here. Nobody cares what 2019 was. It’s not regarding the play-in or the playoffs. What is that supposed to help? We have to put ourselves in the best possible position for that,” Ujiri said a year ago Yahoo Sports Canada clear. If he backs up these words, there might actually be movement in the roster in the coming weeks.
how Sportsnet.ca wants to know, the rest of the league is also eagerly awaiting to know what’s going on up north. A source close to the Raptors is quoted as saying: “The first domino falls in Toronto. What’s happening there will affect teams across the league: Dallas, Phoenix, Toronto, Los Angeles, Atlanta – it’s not regarding deals with any particular team, but people are waiting to see what the Raptors do before they do anything.” Problem: There is currently no trend at all as to what the decision-makers in Toronto intend to do. The situation is described as “very nebulous”.
Raptors: What will become of VanVleet, Siakam and Trent Jr.?
In particular, the “Just keep it up” scenario seems to have little chance of success. If the Raptors fight their way into the play-in tournament, and then possibly go on an early summer break a game later, they will not be at the front if in one the probably stronger draft classes of the last years the best players are distributed.
And your own squad? There, with Fred VanVleet (player option over 22.8M) and Gary Trent Jr. (player option over 18.8M), there are two players who have their fate in their own hands for the coming season and are safe from the trade deadline will attract interest. Trent, who started in 21 of his 31 cases, was able to confirm his strong previous season with a good 18 points, only the threesome is a little weaker at almost 36 percent. VanVleet (18.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, but only 32.4 percent threes) has its value in addition to the sporting component as an emotional leader who leads the way. He won one undrafted in 2016 contract in Toronto and has never played for any other team.
Combined with a period of sporting failure, a trade by the crowd favorite might upset fans. At first glance, the squad seems quite homogeneous – a rising star in his prime (Pascal Siakam, 29 years old), a hopeful talent (Scottie Barnes), who was expected to do better in his second year, a variable winger (OG Anunoby) – At the moment it doesn’t seem like that’s going to be enough to make a difference in a Deep East. So why not sell Siakam for extremely high value to avoid wasting its Prime on an average team?
Questions regarding the expected future of VanVleet and Trent Jr., the role of Siakam in the team that somehow doesn’t work out, or that of Nurse, who is leaving in the fall in his last year of contract, will certainly be thoroughly discussed internally in the coming weeks. With almost all top performers and several rotation players, the contract since 2024 (with the exception of Barnes), so there is flexibility but also uncertainty. Is a contract for VanVleet (soon to be 29) in the five-digit million range the desired goal?
Nurse’s clear words, which he deliberately addressed to his players following internal consultation, should be a final sign of the hour that has come in Toronto. Does the team react positively and create at least a small boost like last year? Or does the plain text of the coach fizzle out in Otto Porter. Jr. has been missing a certain signing since mid-November due to a mysterious toe injury that might provide stability? It’s a fine line the franchise walks — at least some question marks should be gone by early February.
