The Toronto Raptors have 25 games left in their already very impressive season. How will the rest of the year play out for the East’s second-best team?
Virtually nobody could have predicted the success the Toronto Raptors have accomplished so far this season. Forty-two wins, a 15-game winning streak and Pascal Siakam turning into a star before our eyes.
All of that came in just the first 57 games of the season. So what’s in store for the next 25? You can listen to my thoughts on the most recent episode of the Raptors Rapture podcast:
If you’re more of the reading type, here are my five predictions:
1. The Raptors will end up with the two-seed in the East
This isn’t what most would call the hottest take in the world at the moment, but it would have been if you thought this way at the start of the season.
The Raps are the hottest team in the NBA right now and are going to be looking to continue that to close out their season.
The team closest to them is the Boston Celtics, who have also been on a solid run as of late. However, they’re still 1.5 games back of Toronto and haven’t been able to consistently throw out their best lineups due to injuries within the top end of their roster.
The Raptors have faced their fair share of injuries as well, but their depth has impressed more than the Celtics. We’ve seen that they can lead the Raptors to wins when guys like Siakam or Kyle Lowry inevitably get some games off to rest before playoff time.
The second seed is a coveted property in the East this year, and the Raptors are looking poised to land it.
2. Siakam makes second-team All-NBA
Spicy P has been one of the league’s best stories over the past two seasons. Jumping from solid contributor off the bench to a top-three player on a championship team and now has turned into a bonafide star.
It’s pretty much common sense that the first two forward spots will be held by Giannis Antetokounmpo and LeBron James. Everything after that, however, can be put up for debate.
It’s safe to say someone from the third-best regular-season team in the NBA needs to be recognized on one of these All-NBA teams and the guy who’s going to do that is Siakam.
Not a lot of people deserve it more.
3. Nick Nurse wins Coach of the Year
Nurse has put himself right at the top of the list for the “best coach in the league” title for what he’s done with the Raptors this season.
The team has endured what’s felt like an unending injury-bug and somehow Nurse has been able to put the team in the best position to win every single night.
The biggest competitor in this field has to be Milwaukee Bucks coach, Mike Budenholzer, but the only way he gets it is if the Bucks end up with 70 wins. Now, that’s a totally possible outcome given the way they’ve played thus far. However, factoring rest and a tough schedule to close out the season, it’s far from a given.
4. Matt Thomas will finally take over Patrick McCaw’s minutes
Matt Thomas has averaged just over 10 minutes per game all season long. In those minutes, he’s been pretty good. Not great, but definitely not horrible.
He came into the year as an unknown and the thought was that if he could bring anything to the table, it would be a bonus for the Raptors.
Outside of shooting, expectations of him were relatively low. He wasn’t looked at as a great ball-handler or passer and was going to be a total negative on the defensive end. None of that has turned out to be true.
Thomas has been passable on the defensive end and has actually shown some pretty decent ball-handling skills in the limited time he’s had to. Oh, he’s also in the top tier of one of the most important things in this modern NBA – shooting from three.
It sounds weird to say, but Thomas could very well swing a game or two in any playoff series the Raptors find themselves in. Nurse testing the waters and getting him some more reps should be expected in this last stretch of games.
5. Serge Ibaka will start over Gasol before the playoffs
Notice how it’s “before the playoffs”.
That’s because Marc Gasol is almost guaranteed to swing every single big man matchup in the playoffs to the Raptors favour.
However, this is the regular season we’re talking about here.
Serge Ibaka has been on a tear as of late. Over his last 10 games, he’s averaging 21 points and eight rebounds on 60-percent from the floor and 46-percent from deep.
We shouldn’t expect this type of production to continue from the big man, but why not ride him while he’s hot? It’ll keep him happy and will definitely benefit the Raptors record going forward.
It will also give Gasol time to get back into playing shape and play himself back into a good rhythm without the pressure that comes with a starting role.
Listen to more of the Raptors Rapture podcast here.