Raptors Rapture
Fansided

Toronto Raptors’ franchise record win streak highlights fantastic February

By William Ricks

TORONTO, CANADA - FEBRUARY 10: Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors is announced before the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on February 10, 2020 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2020 NBAE (Photo by Ron Turenne/NBAE via Getty Images)
TORONTO, CANADA - FEBRUARY 10: Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors is announced before the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on February 10, 2020 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2020 NBAE (Photo by Ron Turenne/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Toronto Raptors
Norman Powell Toronto Raptors (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images) /

Roster Changes

If any big roster changes were going to happen for the Toronto Raptors, February was the month to make them. The trade deadline was on the sixth of the month at 3 p.m. and it was quiet in Canada in terms of making a deal before the deadline. The only rumours they were involved were around former Pistons center Andre Drummond. Trading for Drummond made sense in some respects, but the Raptors didn’t feel as though he was worth trading for.

3 p.m. came and went, with the Raptors standing pat and not making any trades. They feel comfortable about the roster they have and believe these players are enough to make a deep playoff run and defend their championship. Not making a trade at the deadline isn’t common for Toronto, as this was the first time they didn’t make a deadline deal since the 2005-06 season.

The only other roster changes for the month were injuries. It has been well documented that the Raptors have dealt with many injuries this season. This month wasn’t as bad as the previous months, but they still had some injuries to some important players on the roster.

Marc Gasol missed the entire month as he is still nursing that left hamstring that has given him problems since December of this season. He reaggravated the injury in late January, and it seems like the Raptors are being extra cautious this time around.

It makes sense given Gasol is an older player and his presence will be needed more in April and May than February. There has been no sign of when he is returning to the floor, but the hope is that he returns in the next couple weeks to get back in rhythm right in time for the playoffs.

Norman Powell sat out the majority of the month because of a fractured left finger. Powell suffered the injury January 31 against the Pistons and was labelled out indefinitely the day after. This season had been injury-riddled for Powell, who also missed time with a shoulder injury back in December against the Pistons.

Even though Powell has missed considerable time, he has had a career year. He is averaging career highs in minutes (28.2), points (15.5), true shooting percentage (61.9) rebounds (3.8) and steals (1.2). He has been a spark plug off the bench and has even played well when he was inserted in the starting lineup.

Powell did manage to return to the lineup in the team’s final game of February against the Charlotte Hornets. He started in his first game back, putting up 22 points in 36 minutes. He shot 8-19 from the field and 4-11 from beyond the arc.

Getting Powell back is surely going to give the Raptor’s offence a boost. He just needs to knock off some rust and get back into the swing of things.

Dewan Hernandez has yet to return from the ankle injury he suffered in December. Even though he hasn’t been a huge part of the rotation, this is still something worth noting. There haven’t been many updates on his progress, so it’s safe to consider him week-to-week until further notice.

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