3 reasons the Raptors can make a second half playoff push

TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 14: Jakob Poeltl #19 and Pascal Siakam #43 of the Toronto Raptors celebrate after they defeated the Orlando Magic in their basketball game at the Scotiabank Arena on February 14, 2023 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 14: Jakob Poeltl #19 and Pascal Siakam #43 of the Toronto Raptors celebrate after they defeated the Orlando Magic in their basketball game at the Scotiabank Arena on February 14, 2023 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images)
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Chris Boucher, Toronto Raptors
TORONTO, ON – JANUARY 10: Nick Nurse, head coach of the Toronto Raptors talks with players (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)

2. Manageable schedule

The Raptors were the victims of one of the most difficult schedules in the league in the first half of the season. Considering how they’ve played the pre-Kevin Durant trade Nets and red-hot Knicks four times each, Toronto has already multiple tussles with the 76ers, Heat, and Donovan Mitchell-led Cavaliers. 

On top of the fact that Toronto had a very easy schedule right before the All-Star break, they will begin the next part of the schedule by playing a banged-up Pelicans team, the 10th-place Wizards twice, the disappointing Bulls, and the Pistons again. The team can do some damage here.

Will the Toronto Raptors win games in the second half?

While their first-half choke job against a depleted Jazz team shows that no team should be checked off as a victory before the game starts, Raptors fans have to like playing some of the league’s less impressive teams after running through a complete gauntlet early in the season.

With the new roster tweaks already taking shape, the Raptors should have more than enough raw star power and scoring skills to make themselves a viable postseason opponent. Wins might be easier to come by now that they won’t have to play a title contender four times in two weeks.