When news broke prior to the game indicating that Toronto would only have nine available players to suit up come tip-off, with the lone starter not listed as inactive being center Jakob Poeltl, Raptors fans could sense what type of night they were in for.
The Raptors vs. 76ers game on March 12 was truly a battle of which team wanted the tank more. As the game progressed, it became clear that Philly wasn't going to topple their northern foes—even if the Raptors seemed to be sitting out players in hopes of securing a more likely loss.
The Raptors did what they could to help secure a defeat, opting to play Jamal Shead for just over 12 minutes, during which he posted a team-high +17 plus/minus. I guess he was considered too good to be out there. In addition, Jakob Poeltl didn't even reach a total of 20 minutes played, appearing on the court for only 17 minutes before being shut down for the rest of the game.
Well, I don't think the Raptors could have expected to dispose of Philly so effortlessly, especially considering the Sixers had proven veterans like Quentin Grimes, Kelly Oubre Jr., and Andre Drummond all available to play.
You can't count out the talents who need to take advantage of every small opportunity to ball out and prove their worth in this league; that's exactly what guys like AJ Lawson, Jared Rhoden, and Orlando Robinson did for the Raptors on this night.
Raptors get a huge winning boost from an unlikely star trio
When those three guys combined for 78 of the Raptors' 118 points, it's insane how Toronto is getting quality hoops from their two-way players or those at the bottom of the rotation. They shouldn't be this good, but they are.
As Raptors fans, it seems the fanbase is split on how to feel about these unforeseen developments. On one hand, you can applaud these overlooked players for working hard to make their names known. On the flip side, their contributions to winning basketball might be dampening the Raptors' efforts to secure the highest lottery pick possible.
Rhoden had a career night with a double-double of 25 points and 12 rebounds, while Robinson also achieved career highs across the board with 25 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists. Lawson followed up his 32-point career high against Washington on March 8 with a stellar performance, contributing 28 points, six rebounds, and four assists.
Now, here's the tough part and, honestly, the cold hard truth. I am all for the Raptors hitting on some hidden gems that no one else in the league seems to notice. But ask yourself this: how many of these guys actually have a shot at being consistent rotation contributors for the future?
If I had to guess, out of this current crop of late-season Raptors fighting to prove they have a place on the roster, I'd probably bet on the team keeping Lawson and (maybe) Robinson around for the long haul. But even that is a bold prediction.
Finding promising talents from within is always a good thing, but this draft class is where the real game-changers are. Whether it's Kasparas Jakucionis, VJ Edgecombe, Khaman Maluach, Ace Bailey, Dylan Harper, or the crown jewel himself, Cooper Flagg, these young guns have a higher chance of contributing to the Raptors' ambitions for both the present and the future.
But the sad thing is, I think the Raptors are just too good with what they have (even by sitting out the starters and solid youngsters) to fizzle out to the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. Plus, it was Philly that popularized the concept of tanking, and it's tough to outdo the pioneers; losing on purpose is instilled in their franchise DNA.
I'm definitely against the toxicity of tanking culture, but I won't lie—I am enamored with several talents in this draft class, and the wins piling up are only making those prospects seem further away. I wouldn't advocate for being shameless in the tanking approach, but there's definitely a way to achieve the desired result.
Then again, the Raptors' under-the-radar players are just as eager to establish their case as worthy of a full-time role. It truly is a tough situation for Toronto, and they'll need to roll with the punches.