Following the Toronto Raptors’ 112-98 loss to the Brooklyn Nets, they have fallen to a 9-9 record, yet something about this current group shows great potential.
The Raptors started the season strong, taking down the Miami Heat and Philadelphia 76ers in impressive performances.
Since then, they’ve been swarmed with injuries that limited fifth-season head coach Nick Nurse’s options and slowed down their progress.
Regardless of the injury-ridden roster, Nurse has managed to muster a thinning lineup to maintain a competitive squad in Toronto.
Raptors play-by-play radio host and commentator Eric Smith said the season is young but the feeling is high at Scotiabank Arena.
“It’s a positive vibe right now. They’re mature and responsible enough to realize it’s only been about 20 games, and it’s a marathon,” Smith told Humber Et Cetera.
The 2019 NBA champions gave their fans an unforgettable title run for the first time in franchise history, and just a few years later the new look Raptors aren’t holding back against anyone.
At the moment, the Raptors are seeded eighth in the Eastern Conference and are only five games behind the first seed.
Smith said the Raptors depth has been the reason they’ve been able to compete at a high level, even while undermanned.
Young rotation players like Rexdale native Dalano Banton, recently dropped a career-high 27 points in a close win against the Detroit Pistons.
“They themselves set the bar. We are better, we have better players, we have better depth, we have another year of experience under the belt of Scottie Barnes and our young vets,” Smith said.
Another valuable asset the Raptors have to compete with is a tall and lengthy roster which they have sometimes lacked historically.
“They’ve got an interchangeable lineup with so many players, the vast majority of them are 6 ‘8-6’ 9 and above,” he said. “They can come at you in waves and come at you with so many different looks.”
Some notable injuries have included Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr, along with others which have differed from game to game.
Despite the injury, Pascal Siakam has proven to be a stud with a spicy start, averaging a near triple-double with 24.8 points, 9.3 rebounds and 7.7 assists.
For a man who many fans have said in the past hasn’t done enough to lead Toronto since the departure of Kawhi Leonard, he’s certainly impressed this season.
Another name worth noting is the Raptors’ rookie of the year, Scottie Barnes. Barnes has taken strides thus far this season, as if he’s been in the league for several years, often playing a key role in winning tight games.
Fred Vanvleet, who earned all-star honours for the first time last season despite battling injuries and illnesses, hasn’t shown many signs of slowing down either.
His improvement in defence could be backed up by his top five spots among steals in the NBA, a ranking that OG Anunoby knows all too well.
During a recent post-game press conference, Anunoby stated he believes he is the best defender in the league and will aim to win the defensive player of the year.
His domination on defence, ranking first among steals in the league at 2.4 per game and a total of 44, has given him a valuable reputation in the NBA.
Smith said with the talent and maturity evident in this Raptors team, they must hold themselves to a high standard and expect to still be there come late spring.
“You have to set the bar higher, whether that’s conference finals or an NBA championship. You’re a good team and you’ve got a lot of good pieces, so why not Toronto,” Smith said.
The Raptors know all too well that although the injuries have set them back, strong teams such as the 76ers, the Nets, the Bulls, and the Heat are all seeded behind them, so there is no reason to panic while waiting for their key pieces to return.