The Toronto Raptors are having one of their worst seasons in a long time.
The franchise is currently on pace for its fewest wins in an 82-game season since 2005-06.
Toronto is on a season-high 8 losing streak and they are 1-9 in March.
With many of their key starters out, it’s hard to see the Raptors winning many more games in their final 13 games to close out the season.
The Raptors were committed to rebuilding and these growing pains were to be expected.
The challenge for head coach Darko Rajakovic is to ensure that his team continues to play hard despite all these difficulties.
Following a 123-89 loss to the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night, Rajakovic was asked about the Raptors’ effort levels via Adam Laskaris of Daily Hive Toronto:
“The effort goes from top to bottom like any other team. There were certainly times when the effort was not enough. Especially when you commit turnovers and don’t come back on defense. Very disappointing. We try to move the ball and mistakes happen, but we still have to get back on defense, cover each other and play hard.
Toronto committed 21 turnovers in the game and gave up 36 fast break points to Sacramento.
Toronto’s defensive effort has been poor of late. Their defensive rating fell to 117.4, which ranked 24th in the league.
It’s not going to get any easier for the Raptors. Nine of their final 13 games of the season are against teams with a winning record.
Next up for the Raptors
After their embarrassing performance against the Kings, the shorthanded Raptors will now have to deal with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder.
