Toronto Raptors: The 3 teams Toronto needs to beat to get into play-in tournament
By Jason Mills
The Toronto Raptors are on the verge of ending a seven-year stretch of playoff appearances. This season, like last, has been shortened to 72 games. After winning 50 plus regular-season games in each of the last five years, the Raptors have 21 wins in 54 games.
With just 18 games left, there is a slim chance, a sliver of hope, that the Raptors could extend their playoff consistency to eight straight years. The NBA has gotten creative ever since the COVID-19 pandemic affected the flow of last season, and that creativity may help the Raptors.
NBA play-in could help the Toronto Raptors
Normally the top eight teams in each conference make the playoffs. That has not changed except for the seventh and eighth place teams. They are no longer guaranteed a playoff appearance because of an end-of-season play-in tournament.
After the season ends on May 16th, the seventh seed will face the eighth seed. The winner is guaranteed a playoff spot. The ninth and tenth seeds will then face each other, with the loser being eliminated. The winner will then face the seven vs. eight seed loser to determine the final playoff team.
At the moment, the Raptors are 11th in the East, a few ticks behind the Chicago Bulls, who are ahead of them in 10th place. With Gary Trent Jr.’s recent play and the frontcourt getting a boost with the additions of Freddie Gillespie and Khem Birch, Toronto may have some renewed hope.
The Raptors could be half a game out of the final play-in position for the 2021 playoffs by Thursday morning. It would all be significantly easier if Toronto could secure the East’s sixth seed, but that requires making up seven and a half games to surpass the Charlotte Hornets, who are 27-25 so far. It Also means leapfrogging five teams in total with just a little over a month left to play.
Here’s a brief look at three opponents the Raptors will need to surpass to at least get into the 2021 play-in tournament or playoffs.