Toronto Raptors: Midseason record is a testament to roster depth

The Raptors are still surviving

Despite losing 65-percent of their offense all at once, as well as dealing with a constant wave of injuries, the Toronto Raptors still have a record of 25-13, good for the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference.

At some point or another, the Toronto Raptors have always had a man on the sideline. Be it Patrick McCaw at the start of the season, Kyle Lowry and Serge Ibaka in the early stages, or Pascal Siakam, Norman Powell, Fred VanVleet, and Marc Gasol now. The Raptors haven’t been able to truly flex their muscles as defending champions.

Not yet, anyway. That hasn’t stopped them from rattling off some highly impressive wins, though. Back in November, the Raptors scored a huge win on the road against the Los Angeles Lakers. Also known as the team with the second-best record in the NBA. At the time of victory, the Lakers had a 7-2 record. Now, they have a 31-7 record.

During that victory, you guessed it, the Raptors were shorthanded. Just one game earlier, against the New Orleans Pelicans, the Raptors lost both Lowry and Ibaka due to injury. Yet, somehow, they came out on top against the LeBron James and Anthony Davis-led Los Angeles Lakers.

After that, the Raptors were able to pull off one of the greatest wins in NBA history, a 30-point comeback against the Dallas Mavericks on home soil. The biggest comeback in franchise history, and again, the team was shorthanded — missing Gasol, Powell, and Siakam.

The Raptors have been ticking along nicely and the fourth-best record in the Eastern Conference is a testament to that. Sometimes, it’s ugly. The offense stutters and goes through dry spells. But, for the most part, the team still looks primed to make a run in the playoffs. Especially once their stars return.

For now, though, the Raptors can thank their depth for keeping the wheels turning.