Toronto Raptors: Midseason record is a testament to roster depth
Depth is the answer
Of course, it’s not all down to depth in the natural sense. The Raptors starters, no matter who they are, be it VanVleet, Lowry, or Siakam, have been getting the job done then they are on the court. But, because of the nature of the Raptors injuries, and the amount of them, the starting lineup has constantly changed throughout the season.
In 38 games, the Raptors have fielded a total of seven different starting lineups due to injuries. That’s a lot of chopping and changing, and that requires a creative mind to piece together the puzzle. Luckily, the Toronto Raptors have that mind in Nick Nurse. He has been the architect behind the Raptors’ stability.
But it’s the players that he has put in place are the ones that are getting the job done on the court. The Raptors projected starting lineup of Lowry, VanVleet, Anunoby, Siakam, and Gasol has only played in 11 games together so far this season, just 31-percent of the Raptors games so far this season. In that time, they have impressed with a net rating of +13.8.
Still, the Raptors have the third-best defensive rating in the league and, overall, the sixth-best net rating. That consistency is down to the depth of the roster. That Raptors’ have an abundance of players who have been able to step up into a role and perform.
Be it Chris Boucher, Terence Davis, or even Oshae Brissett, who has stepped up to the plate in recent games, the Raptors have the depth that makes a number of fellow NBA teams jealous. Nick Nurse doesn’t need them to step up and score 30 points a night, or even to make winning plays, necessarily.
He just needs them to step up and contribute and to directly impact the team — and they have consistently. Terence Davis has looked like an NBA veteran most times he steps on the court, and though still raw, Brissett’s energy and hustle point to the signs of a player who might develop well.
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Even without their full lineup, the Raptors have looked dangerous. Once they are back to full health, the Raptors will look to make a deep run in the playoffs, and when that time comes, Nick Nurse knows he’ll have plenty of players to rely on.