Toronto Raptors: 6ix Takes – This team must get healthy

TORONTO, ON - JANUARY 1: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors dribbles the ball as Royce O'Neale #23 of the Utah Jazz defends during the first half of an NBA game at Scotiabank Arena on January 1, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /

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6. The Raptors will look to tread water in what figures to be a tough stretch of games

If Kawhi and Co. haven’t already put Thursday’s disappointment behind them, I recommend they do so immediately. At the end of the day, it’s a road loss to a Western Conference team. Big deal. Dear Spurs, see you in Toronto on Feb. 22.

More critical to Toronto’s season are the stretch of games upcoming against Eastern Conference foes. It starts Saturday in Milwaukee, against a Bucks team that already owns two victories over the Dinos this season. From there, the Raptors return home to host a red-hot Pacers squad Sunday in what is sure to be a tough back-to-back sequence.

After that, it’s the Atlanta Hawks on Jan. 8, then the Brooklyn Nets (who beat them in their last meeting). Both games will take place at Scotiabank Arena. Following a three-game homestand, the Raptors travel to Washington and then Boston. Both figure to be tough games, though they should be able to handle the Wizards who are without John Wall, after the point guard elected to undergo season-ending surgery to repair an Achilles injury.

That said, there are no easy wins in the NBA, especially when you’re trying to win without key pieces. The Toronto Raptors possess enough talent to pull it off, but that being said, reinforcements cannot arrive soon enough.

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