Toronto Raptors: Poor week leads to drop in latest NBA power rankings

The Toronto Raptors have had a very challenging season given their poor start and geographical location due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the last week has been as hard to get through as any, as evidenced by their dip in the NBA power rankings.

The league’s health and safety protocols forced head coach Nick Nurse, five assistant coaches, and star players like Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby, and Fred VanVleet to miss the last three games. While Sergio Scariolo led the Raptors to a win against the Houston Rockets, he was on the losing end of two spankings by the Detroit Pistons and Boston Celtics.

In a very deep Eastern Conference that could conceivably see at least 12 teams make a legit run at the postseason, the ranking gurus haven’t gone easy on them despite the difficult circumstances they’ve endured.

ESPN dropped the Raptors down to 16th in the power rankings, showing that their poor showing last week has raised some doubts about their ability to contend. CBS also slotted Toronto in at 16, while NBC was much more pessimistic, declaring the Raptors just the 18th best team in the NBA.

The Toronto Raptors slid in the latest NBA power rankings

The Raptors, unfortunately, are the definition of mediocrity this season. Currently in eighth place in the East, Toronto is 15th in pace, 14th in scoring, and 13th in defense. The combination of some above-average stars and a below average bench has made it hard for the Raptors to sustain their success.

The Raptors schedule presents plenty of opportunities for them to leap up in the rankings. Six of their first seven matches after play resumes are against teams that are under .500, including a March 11 game against the Atlanta Hawks to kick things off and a rematch against the Pistons.

While they are in the middle of a very tough division, they have already played the Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers for the final time. While the Brooklyn Nets and New York Knicks represent a daunting challenge, Toronto has beat both of them this year, so they could pull out another win or two.

The Raptors knew they had some tough days ahead of them, but the lack of effort and tenacity on the defensive end really did a number on them. Hopefully, the All-Star break will be a welcome reprieve that allows Toronto to recenter as they try to fight for their playoff lives.