Beating the Phoenix Suns and Detroit Pistons in back-to-back games was a huge win for the Raptors for two reasons: it helped improve their place in the standings, and it proved that the Raptors weren’t completely hopeless against good teams. Before, the Raptors hadn’t found much success against teams with better records.
That habit resurfaced when they took on the Nuggets. The Raptors put up a good fight, and the game had an intense playoff feel to it, but, unable to stop Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, they eventually fell short in the fourth quarter.
The loss highlighted an issue the Raptors are trying to address this season: Unlike many of the top teams in the league, the Raptors haven’t won together yet. As a result, they don’t have the same experience when it comes to executing in big moments.
Scottie Barnes played four playoff games with the Raptors in the 2021-22 season. The rest of the core—Brandon Ingram, Immanuel Quickley, and RJ Barrett—haven’t made it to the playoffs with the Raptors yet. This is Ingram’s first season with the team and Barrett’s and Quickley’s first year in Toronto, which will end with a winning record.
Teams like the Nuggets, on the other hand, have won together at the highest level, and that shows when you’re trying to close out a tough game in the fourth quarter.
Many teams have more experience together than the Raptors
The Nuggets’ core of Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Aaron Gordon won a title together. They have shared experiences in high-pressure situations with the season and a title on the line that the Raptors’ core just doesn’t have.
Denver isn’t the only team like that to beat the Raptors, either. They also lost a 115-107 game to the Timberwolves. Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert, Jaden McDaniels, Julius Randle, Naz Reid, and Donte DiVincenzo went to the Western Conference Finals together.
The Knicks also made the Eastern Conference Finals with Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, and OG Anunoby. Since Karl-Anthony Towns joined the team, the Knicks have gone to two conference semifinals.
Last but not least, the Raptors also lost to the Celtics. Even though Jayson Tatum was out at the time, the Celtics still had Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and Payton Pritchard, who all won a title together.
Those experiences of winning together at the highest level make a difference. If all goes well, the Raptors will make the playoffs with their core of Barnes, Ingram, Barrett, and Quickley, this season and maybe even win a few games to get those experiences for themselves.