Toronto Raptors: 3 bold predictions for pivotal 2021 season
By Mike Luciano
After months of uncertainty and wondering, the Toronto Raptors are finally ready to get their 2021-22 NBA season kicked off in style against the Washington Wizards. Everyone has been making their Raptors predictions over the course of the offseason, and we’ll finally get to see if they will come to fruition.
The Raptors are in a bit of a retooling year, as they will have to transition from the Kyle Lowry era into a new epoch headlined by players like Fred VanVleet, Scottie Barnes, and OG Anunoby. It’s a bit risky, but the results of this directive could be extremely promising.
The Raptors are largely projected to be a fringe playoff team, with the high end of their outlook likely turning them into a No. 7 or No. 8 seed with the lower end putting them outside of the play-in tournament again. If they get some lucky breaks, they just might make good on that optimistic projection.
In the name of being bold, let’s take a look at a few predictions for this season that might sound a bit outlandish, but actually have a solid chance of being fulfilled if the Raptors get into a groove.
3 bold Toronto Raptors predictions for the 2021-22 season.
1. 7 players average at least 10 points per game
The Raptors appear to be more than willing to go up to 10 players deep in their rotation. In addition to the likes of VanVleet, Anunoby, Siakam, and Gary Trent Jr. all likely to top 10 per game, Toronto should give enough minutes to players like Barnes, Chris Boucher, and Goran Dragic to score at this elite clip.
The Raptors averaged 111.3 points per game last year, and there should be no excuse for not hitting that total again. With Trent’s shooting, Barnes’ growing offensive skill, and Dragic’s experience, getting everyone involved might be what ends up putting this team over the top.
The Toronto Raptors should spread the wealth around on offense.
Outside of the 2019 postseason, in which they leaned on Kawhi Leonard’s isolation scoring skills, Toronto has always thrived on an egalitarian offensive approach that features multiple offensive options capable of taking the game over. In a retooling year, why not distribute the scoring load as much as possible?
With Lowry gone, creating a three-headed monster of Siakam, VanVleet, and Anunoby to lead this team with players like Barnes, Boucher, and Trent supplementing them might be the ideal strategy needed to snatch a few wins. Overwhelming opponents with offensive depth could get this team to the postseason.