the raptors: post nba trade deadline

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

The Raptors were recently crushed by the Cleveland Cavaliers in an important, almost-win game, if they hope to climb the Eastern Conference Standings into a guaranteed playoff spot. The Raptors were riding high following a four game winning streak, their longest of the season, but came tumbling down to their mediocrity against a tough Cavs opponent. Frankly, I believed the Raptors could compete with Cleveland especially after the addition of Jakob Poetl, a former Raptor who has developed into a strong center, filling the wide gap at center. 

The Raptors were outclassed by a Cavs opponent, who, coming off their worst loss of the season in which they gave up their highest opponents point total of the year, were locked in and ready to play. Doovan Mitchell and Collin Sexton rained threes, while Evan Mobley, Scottie Barnes’s mini-rival drafted just ahead of him in the 2021 Draft, protected the paint and flashed a smooth jump shot of his own, one basketball trait Scottie doesn’t possess and should loo to add to improve his game.

The Trade Deadline addition of Poeltl proved to be huge leading up to the Cavs Debacle and I believed the Raptors were trending on up, from a fringe playoff team to middle of the road contender and potential Eastern Conference Dark Horse. Rattling off three wins against the Pistons and Magic is no grand feat, as these two teams rank near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, but these wins were signs that the team was finally ready to compete. Fully healthy and with a complete roster, Sunday’s loss against the Cavs shows that the Raptors just don’t have the offensive firepower or defensive capability to be a threat in the Eastern Conference. What puzzles me is OG Anunoby’s disappearance with seven points on seven shot attempts, which made many question Ujiri’s decision to keep him at the deadline after a flurry of rumours almost made certain he would be moved.

I’ll give the Raptors team the benefit of the doubt, another shot at redemption, as they played without their star point guard, Vanvleet, whose grit, toughness and playmaking ability glues this team together. VanVleet welcomed his newest child, his newest since welcoming a son during the team’s Championship run in 2019, which could be a sign that the Raptors season could be turning around as their first championship in franchise history coincided with the birth of Freddy’s first child. Until Fred returns, and the Raptors solve their mystifying and puzzling defensive arrangement, this edition of the Raptors team is bound to eternal mediocrity, under the hump in a Conference of teams that are just a little bit better than they are.

Let’s hope the Raptors can turn their season around. With a stretch of crucial games against the bulls and Wizards, teams they are clumped around in the standings, the Raptors have a shot to elevate their play and move up the Eastern Conference Standings. 

For the sake of my evening entertainment, they better.