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) /

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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.