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Raptors: Ranking 3 potential play-in teams Toronto could face

By Matthew Chiu

TORONTO, ON - JANUARY 25: LaMelo Ball #2 of the Charlotte Hornets dribbles against Precious Achiuwa #5 of the Toronto Raptors (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - JANUARY 25: LaMelo Ball #2 of the Charlotte Hornets dribbles against Precious Achiuwa #5 of the Toronto Raptors (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images) /
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The Toronto Raptors currently sit as the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference, meaning they are currently stuck in the play-in tournament. While they would need to lose twice to be eliminated, this team is struggling to beat even the most lackluster of opponents.

They’ve struggled mightily as of late, as the squad has missed Fred VanVleet and OG Anunoby due to some concerning injuries. However, the Raptors have dealt with the injury bug in the past and it hasn’t phased them as much as it has over the last few weeks.

This Raptors team can’t solely blame the injuries on their rough stretch. Two starters in Khem Birch and Gary Trent Jr. have to improve their play if the team wants any chance of returning to their winning ways. Without a major reversal in their fortune, Toronto will get swept up in this uncertain tournament.

It’s no longer about how far the Raptors can get in the playoffs, it’s now shifted to if they can make it out of the play-in tournament. Given the three potential play-in teams Toronto will likely end up facing, here’s a ranking of those potential opponents.

Ranking the 3 potential play-in teams the Raptors could face.

3. Charlotte Hornets

Given how bad the Raptors have been playing, there’s no such thing as an easy opponent. The Hornets started Toronto’s horrendous stretch with a crushing 125-93 victory despite VanVleet being in the lineup. Fortunately, the Raptors have had the Hornets’ number this season.

LaMelo Ball has had a phenomenal start to his career, but he hasn’t seen the same kind of success against the Raptors, especially this season. While he’s averaging 17.7 points, 7.3 assists, and 4.0 rebounds per game against Toronto, he’s shooting just 35% from the field and 22% from 3-point range in these games.

The Hornets would be a favorable matchup for the Toronto Raptors.

The Raptors’ small-ball lineup works perfectly against a Hornets lineup that doesn’t have a bruising threat in the paint. Montrezl Harrell might be the closest player to fit that description, but he’s not so dominant that Toronto will be completely undone with his interior finishing.

The Hornets are a team that relies heavily on their shooting to win games. Although the Raptors’ defense has been up and down all year, they have the defenders to match up well against guys like Ball, Terry Rozier, and Miles Bridges. Charlotte can be deadly, but playing them might be Toronto’s best hope of advancing.