There are 11 games left.
THE Toronto Raptors currently have the longest losing streak in the NBA, at 10 games.
There are 11 games left.
They played without their best player, future point guard, best wing scorer, starting center and best self-shot creator.
There are 11 games left.
With the entire starting lineup missing, the offense collapsed and landed the team permanently in the “doom quadrant.”
There are 11 games left.
8 of the remaining games are against opponents in playoff or play-in position. The Raptors have home and away games against Brooklyn remaining, including Monday’s home game… where Toronto is a 5.5-point underdog. If they are house dogs, the Raptors probably won’t be favored in Brooklyn. The only remaining game is at home against Washington. This may be the only game where Toronto is favored.
11. Games. LEFT.
March 25 against Brooklyn nets
When Jacque Vaughn was fired on February 19, the Nets had a winning percentage of 38.8% (21-33 record).
Since hiring Kevin Ollie on February 20, the Nets have a winning percentage of 29.4% (5-12 record).
The situation in Brooklyn is not much different from that in Toronto. Ollie may have been thrust into his first NBA head coaching role midway through the season, but Darko Rajakovic has essentially coached three different versions of the Raptors (pre-trade, post-trade, and post-Scottie). Both teams entered the season knowing that they were, at best, playmaking teams. Both teams have a star wing that they will build their respective teams around (although Toronto’s is 5 years younger and has a higher ceiling).
The comparisons stop there, abruptly.
While Toronto has Indiana’s top 3 protected first and, with some lottery luck, a top 6 pick, Brooklyn doesn’t have a first round pick as they still owe Houston some money. James Harden deal – who was traded last season. transaction deadline.
The Raptors also have the excuse of injuries. Many, many injured. Brooklyn’s biggest injury concern was the loss of Ben Simmons for the season. Simmons has only played 15 games for Brooklyn this year.
Fun fact that can only interest me
Dennis Schroder played his worst game of the season upon his return to Toronto last month. He missed 6 of his 7 field goal attempts, coughed up 4 turnovers on the bench, and generally looked like someone playing only his 4th game for a new team.
Schroder’s plus/minus for the game, -30, was his lowest of the season and the second lowest of his entire career, spanning 758 games!
Phew. And he wanted starting minutes on this team!
Prediction
The Nets head to Toronto having lost 6 games in a row and 8 of their last 9 games. Among those games were losses to Detroit, Charlotte and San Antonio. They are nearing the end of a brutal late-season road trip with 10 of 11 games away.
However, Brooklyn is still favorite with 5.5 points to win this match! That should tell you everything you need to know about the current state of the Raptors.
It was a little over a month ago when the Raptors dismantled the same Nets by 28 points. Ah, the good old days when Toronto had its starters! The Nets get their revenge by adding to Toronto’s losing streak AND covering the spread by 5.5.
March 27 against New York Knicks
The Knicks have the No. 3 defense over the past two weeks.
This shouldn’t surprise you. Tom Thibodeau’s middle name is defense, I think. What may surprise you is that the Knicks did most of this without OG Anunoby, who only played in 3 of those 7 games.
In fact, New York’s starting frontcourt – Anunoby, Julius Randle and Mitchell Robinson – has played a total of 3 games since January 27. The Knicks’ success this year depends on the returns of Anunoby and Randle.
Assuming OG signs his extension to stay in New York, the Knicks will have a core of Jalen Brunson, Donte Divincenzo, Josh Hart, Anunoby, Randle, Robinson and Bojan Bogdanovic to wreak havoc in the East this season. next. As long as they are healthy, the Knicks will be a serious contender in 2025.
Fun fact that can only interest me
Mitchell Robinson’s season ended abruptly on December 8 after he injured his ankle and underwent surgery. At the time, he led the NBA with an offensive rebounding percentage of 20.3%.
That was about 40 games ago for the Knicks, who currently find themselves……#1 in the NBA in offensive rebounding percentage (32.3%)!
Prediction
Anunoby’s first game at Scotiabank Arena as an opponent will be similar to Pascal Siakam’s return since he played with very few of the current Raptors. Whether he’s able to dress up or not, the ovation he receives will be one of the only bright spots of the evening (and will be worth the price of admission).
As for the game itself, the Raptors will have no answer for Jalen Brunson, who torched Toronto with 38 points last meeting, or any of New York’s offensive crashers, including (gulp) Precious Achiuwa.
The Knicks cover the spread by 10.5 and beat the Raptors by 20.
March 31 against Philadelphia 76ers
Remember the first week of the season when the Raptors had to face the Sixers in the second game of a row… TWICE?!?
Since these teams last met on December 22, Philadelphia has made the following transactions:
- Kyle Lowry requested waivers
- Signed Jeff Dowtin Jr. to a two-way contract
- Traded for Cam Payne
- Signed DJ Wilson to a 10-day contract (which expires two days before this game…unless it’s renewed)
The Sixers are No. 1 in turnover rate (meaning they don’t turn the ball over), No. 1 in transition points per play on live rebounds (Alexa, play “Push It » by Salt ‘n’ Pepa) and #1 in interceptions. .
Yeah, it’s a Nick Nurse team!
Fun fact that can only interest me
Kyle Lowry played 24,265 minutes in a Raptors uniform (including playoffs).
If we take Chris Boucher out of the equation, that’s almost the same amount of career minutes in the Raptors’ regular season (24,461) like the full list of RAPTORS.
Prediction
As has been the case throughout his tenure as Raptors head coach, Nick Nurse offered no clues about the schedules of Joel Embiid, Robert Covington (out since Dec. 30) or De’Anthony Melton (out since February 27). Since Embiid injured his knee against the Warriors on Jan. 30, Philadelphia has remained afloat with a 10-15 record. If they were in the West, the Sixers would be 10th and debating whether to call it quits for the season. Playing in the East allows Philly to wait out his recovery and hope he’s ready to make the playoffs.
It would be nice to see Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett and Gary Trent Jr. take on Tyrese Maxey, Tobias Harris and Buddy Hield, but there’s no way to know if/when IQ and Barrett will return. As such, I imagine the The Sixers will be 9.5 point favorites and should be able to cover by winning by 15 points.
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