The Toronto Raptors got pretty lucky in the early stages of the Emirates NBA Cup. They are in East Group A with the Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, Milwaukee Bucks, and Brooklyn Nets.
It’s one of the easier groups this year, and the Raptors should be happy that they avoided Group B, which is made up of the New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat, and Indiana Pacers. That group will be a bloodbath, while the Raptors will get to play the Bucks and Nets, who finished 28th and 29th, respectively, in ESPN’s latest power rankings.
The Raptors’ first cup game will be against the Magic on Friday. Given how they blew out the Magic on Wednesday, they should be able to get off to a great start in the tournament. Sure, Orlando will learn from their first game and make adjustments, but the Magic are still short-handed with Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs out, and the Raptors know how to beat them.
Hopefully, the Raptors’ can replicate what they did in their 129-99 win
This was the Raptors’ first thoroughly efficient shooting game of the season. They shot 50% from the field and 43% from behind the arc. Moreover, they outscored the Magic in the paint and held Franz Wagner to just 15 points on 4-of-11 shooting.
And that was with Jakob Poeltl and Collin Murray-Boyles both in foul trouble. Both bigs should be better next game.
Aside from the foul trouble, the Raptors can also clean up their turnovers. It didn’t really cost them in this game, but they conceded 23 points off 15 turnovers—more than they scored off the Magic’s 20 turnovers. That could make a difference in a closer game.
The Pistons should be the Raptors’ biggest threat in the group stage
The Pistons are off to a 4-1 start, sitting at the top of the Eastern Conference standings once again. They beat the Boston Celtics to start the season, handed the new-look Miami Heat a 17-point loss, and beat the Philadelphia 76ers 106-93 in their first three games. Then, they lost a game to the New York Knicks before bouncing back and beating the Charlotte Hornets.
Between Detroit, the injured Magic, Nets, and Bucks, the Pistons definitely look like the biggest threat to the Raptors and their chances of advancing to the knockout rounds. Only four teams from each conference get to advance—the winners of each group and one wild card, which is the team with the best record out of all the second-place finishes in each group.
So, the Raptors either have to beat the Pistons for the top spot in their group, or edge out all other second-place teams. Accomplishing either starts with taking care of business against the Magic on Friday.
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