Pascal Siakam, Norman Powell, and the Toronto Raptors went from 16-15 in the early parts of the season to 17-23, which has led to their slide down to 11th in an Eastern Conference that is as deep and competitive as it has been in years.
The Raptors are by no means a complete dumpster fire. In fact, Nick Nurse had this team playing well for a good chunk of the season. Despite that early positive streak, Toronto has lost eight of nine and six in a row, a mark of futility they haven’t earned in a decade.
Despite the fact they have lost eight of nine and are currently not in the postseason, they are 14th in the NBA in net rating, ahead of playoff contenders like the Hornets, Knicks, and Pacers, all of whom Toronto has beaten this season.
Having said that, if players like Atlanta Hawks defensive specialist Tony Snell are hitting back-breaking 3-pointers to win the game against you, that’s a sign that some higher power has it out for you in 2021.
You just lost to tony snell. Where that meme at lol
— Brandon Goodwin (@goodysav) March 12, 2021
The Toronto Raptors could easily be over .500 right now
The Raptors started off the season 2-8, but even that start had some poor results mixed in. The second game of the year was a loss against the San Antonio Spurs in which they fell by five points despite leading with 30 seconds left. A few games in between their tussle with the New Orleans Pelicans didn’t help, as they again blew a two-point fourth-quarter lead.
The Raptors were literally a few bounces of the ball away from picking up two straight wins against the Golden State Warriors and Portland Trail Blazers, but Siakam missed both a midrange jump shot and an easy tip-in right near the rim.
Losing one stud due to the health and safety protocols would’ve been tough enough, but Toronto lost five players, including three of their six top scorers. Their losing streak is directly and inexorably to losing these players, a move that comes from no other source other than the vengeful finger of God.
The Snell buzzer-beater was the latest in a series of back-breaking moments for Toronto. At their best, Toronto is capable of taking down any team in the league given how balanced they are on both sides of the floor and their willingness to defer to one of seven players to shoulder the offensive load.
However, they just can’t seem to pile up the victories, no matter what the likes of Powell try to do. Raptors fans might just need to accept the fact that this season is a wash, and reload for 2021-22, as the Raptors appear destined to continue breaking mirrors, walking under ladders, passing by black cats, and suffering through the consequences as a result.