The Toronto Raptors are currently sitting at an 9-12 record so far this season. While they are not contending for a playoff spot at the moment, the team is 7-4 in their last 11 games and appearing to be moving upward after digging themselves out of the early hole they found themselves in.
While the Brooklyn Nets will undoubtedly give Toronto a world of problems on defense given their superstars in Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden, the unusually deep East can present a Toronto team that will likely have to slide into the playoffs as a low seed with a multitude of problems. These three heavyweights could all serve as brick walls Toronto might not be able to run through.
These are the three toughest playoff matchups the Toronto Raptors could face in the postseason
No. 3: Boston Celtics
Boston’s stars could make life difficult for the Toronto Raptors
The Celtics have perhaps the strongest overall starting five in the Eastern Conference outside of the Nets. However, what they have which the Nets do not is strong depth to go along with their big three in Kemba Walker, Jayson Tatum, and Jaylen Brown. The Celtics have had some COVID issues this season, and have still been able to bounce back, holding their own at fourth place.
The Celtics and Raptors are very big on promoting from within. 2020 first-round draft selection Payton Pritchard has been lights out to begin the season, and Brown’s improvement has pushed him towards the elite tier of wings in the East.
The Raptors have had some significant improvements as well this season, such as Chris Boucher putting himself into Sixth Man of the Year contention and OG Anunoby’s consistent offensive improvement. However, the Raptors have not been as active in free agency, losing out on signing Canadian centre Tristan Thompson to these same Celtics.
This Celtics team is not nearly as paint dominant as the other Eastern Conference contenders, but they still pose significant challenges to deal with. The Celtics have just so many options on the perimeter the Raptors need to stop, as Walker remains a lethal scorer and Tatum is starting to become a superstar. Even though the Raptors have some excellent defenders, it will be difficult for them to match up on the offensive side of the ball if they get into a shootout.
No. 2: Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks have superstars and depth, which could be problematic for the Toronto Raptors
The Raptors fended off the Bucks in the conference finals last season, but this is not the same Milwaukee team of past years. Gone is some of their previous backcourt depth with George Hill, Eric Bledsoe, and Malcolm Brogdon. However, this team has massively upgraded since by acquiring Jrue Holiday from the New Orleans Pelicans and Bobby Portis from the New York Knicks.
The Raptors have long been known as the much deeper team in this matchup, but is that the case this season? Kawhi Leonard, Marc Gasol, Serge Ibaka, and Danny Green are all gone from the championship roster, and the team has made very few signings to replace this depth, choosing instead to promote from within. While some diamonds in the rough have been found, the team could definitely use some help from any of them.
Milwaukee has seen a few young players develop and improve consistently as well. Donte Divincenzo and DJ Wilson, while not showing gigantic improvement on the scoresheet, have been much more efficient shooters this season. With Giannis Antetokounmpo as deadly as ever, the increased depth is a welcome sight for Toronto.
The Raptors will need Aron Baynes to step up and be able to defend Milwaukee’s bigs for most of their minutes on the floor, but OG Anunoby and Stanley Johnson should be able to help out in the paint as well.
No. 1: Philadelphia 76ers
The 76ers have the size and shooting to give the Raptors fits
Joel Embiid in the first round would be a very scary matchup for this new iteration of the Toronto Raptors. The squad lost their “Embiid stopper” in defensive stalwart Marc Gasol, and while Baynes is decently reliable on defense, he probably will not be able to hold Embiid to zero points like Gasol and Serge Ibaka did late last November.
This 76ers squad has rapidly improved last season, as they added Seth Curry, Dwight Howard, and 2020 first-round draft pick Tyrese Maxey to the team. This team was incredibly good defensively, but they needed an offensive punch, and Curry and Maxey filled that role with aplomb.
Luckily, the Raptors have a solution to the firepower that the 76ers bring to the table. OG Anunoby and the newly emerging Stanley Johnson have been pivotal pieces to this team this season, and they hopefully will be able to hold off the 76ers best players.
While Joel Embiid and Dwight Howard’s size and ability to dominate the paint is a concern, if the Raptors can hold off the other unsung heroes of this 76ers team and say a few prayers, then they could beat this team.
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