Toronto Raptors: Three New Year’s Resolutions for 2021

Although we can’t predict how the season will go based on five games alone, something’s gotta give if the Toronto Raptors want to proper in 2021.

The Toronto Raptors were starting to look a little more familiar following their victory against the New York Knicks on Dec. 31, but it doesn’t change the fact that it was an ugly win. They followed it up by losing to the New Orleans Pelicans on Jan. 2 in yet another close game. Not exactly the best way to start the new year.

However, even with a 1-4 record, their worst start since 2005-06, it’s still too early to hit the panic button.

This a new group, playing at a new home, in a season like no other (New year, new Raptors, literally). There are 67 games left to play. The first half of the schedule is already tough enough, and the second half of the schedule is yet to be released.

That being said, let’s all take a collective breath and go over a couple of things that we’d like to see done, not just this season, but this whole year, on and off the court.

These resolutions exclude tanking and trade scenarios, and instead, focus on what could be done with the current roster. I’ve left out the obvious, but it doesn’t change the fact that their offense needs immense improvement. The Toronto Raptors currently have the worst offensive rating in the league. Trading for a certain superstar who wants out of Houston is sounding better and better every day.

1. Finish strong

Of course, finishing strong applies to the regular season, but it also applies to every game as of late.

On top of their struggles on offense, this Raptors team has been having a difficult time when it comes to closing games. They tend to collapse in the second half.

The most frustrating thing isn’t losing, it’s the way that they’ve been losing. A lot of these games could’ve been easy wins. Instead, the Raptors enter halftime with a lead just to lose it by the fourth quarter, often blowing double-digit leads in the process.

They played some of their best basketball of the season in the fourth quarter against the New York Knicks on Dec. 31. We need to see more strong finishes like this in 2021, ideally with equally strong first halves.

Just as things were starting to look up again, the team was back to collapsing in the second half. They kicked off the new year with a 120-116 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Jan. 2. Again, failing to close it out in the second half.

One particular player who has been having trouble closing down the stretch is Pascal Siakam. He’s been having decent first half but his energy tends to die off in the second half, disappearing when we need him the most.

There is a lot of pressure on Siakam this season and he needs to step up his game this year if he wants to perform up to expectations and prove his critics wrong. Many fans want to see him succeed, but right now he just isn’t in the right headspace. Hopefully, he can figure it out and bounce back sooner rather than later.

2. Rebuild confidence and chemistry

During the shortest off-season in NBA history, the Toronto Raptors lost two integral parts of their championship team: Serge Ibaka and Marc Gasol. They picked up a couple of new players and temporarily relocated to Tampa with barely any time for them to adapt and adjust to the new changes.

The off-season was short, the team only played three pre-season games, and they’re playing in a whole different environment. The tight condensed schedule doesn’t help either.

“It’s just growing pains, man. It’s a new team, new situation for everybody,” Kyle Lowry told reporters following the team’s Dec. 29 loss to the Philadelphia Sixers. “We’re not all on the same page right now, but we’re working to get towards that.”

Trouble in Tampa?

The chemistry is just not there anymore. The team is struggling and the players have been vocal about their frustrations; losing four out of their first five games has affected the team’s confidence. While the slow start has ignited a sense of urgency in the locker room, it’s also created some tension.

Just minutes before game time, it was reported that Siakam was being benched against the Knicks on Dec. 31. Fans began questioning whether it was because Siakam walked off the court after being fouled out when they faced the Sixers two days earlier, or whether there was a trade incoming.

Although coach Nick Nurse wouldn’t get into details, he stated that the decision was made for disciplinary reasons and internal matters beyond Siakam walking off the court:

"It’s something we’re trying to work out, and work it out early in the season and not let it prolong… There’s certain standards that we want to set and he just needs to get on board with those… It may just be the first part of the process, but he can do it."

Pretty vague, but the last thing that the Toronto Raptors need right now is drama affecting the way that they play.

Siakam hasn’t been himself since March 2020. Fans know it, his teammates know it, and he knows it too. His decision-making hasn’t been the greatest and he often hesitates with the ball, giving up lazy fouls. He hasn’t been playing up to his potential and it’s been frustrating to watch. His confidence has dropped since the bubble, and it shows. Personally, I’d like to see him bounce back and I believe he can. It’s just going to take time.

The team still has a lot to figure out. And with only five games into the season, they still have a lot of time to do so.

#3. Land a Big Name in Free Agency

Though this past off-season was rather underwhelming for Toronto Raptors fans, Masai Ujiri and Bobby Webster handled it carefully and strategically, saving cap space for this year’s upcoming free agency.

Now here we are in 2021. Many players who were expected to join the stacked 2021 free agency class have since signed contract extensions, including the Raptors’ plan A. So what now? Although there are still plenty of good players on the board, we all know who the Toronto Raptors had their eye on.

During the off-season, Raptors managed to re-sign many of their young homegrown talents, with Fred VanVleet’s deal structured to help the team preserve cap space for 2021.

Cap flexibility came at a cost. The Toronto Raptors let Gasol and Ibaka, whose presence and leadership are missed now more than ever, walk away. But now that Giannis Antetokounmpo is off the table after signing a five-year $228 million supermax contract with the Milwaukee Bucks, what are the Raptors going to do next?

With tons of cap space and many players entering free agency or with a player option this year, it’ll be interesting to see how the Raptors utilize their abundant cap space. They need to make some moves if they want to be seen as contenders again.

Right now, it just feels like the Toronto Raptors are one superstar away from being competitive again. Trading is an option, but if the front office decides to wait for the off-season to acquire a star player, it gives the current core plenty of time to develop. Hopefully, they’ll be able to figure it out and build chemistry in the meantime.

Here’s to 2021!