The Toronto Raptors’ schedule this season will force decision-makers at TSN and Sportsnet to make some tough decisions.
Every year, the two television networks hold a draft to determine which network will show which games. Typically, there are obvious choices to top the draft, such as the return of a star player like Kyle Lowry, for example, or a superstar coming to town for a big game. This year, however, there are no obvious choices, and the back-to-back games between football and Toronto Maple Leafs games are creating headaches for executives.
That being said, here’s how I think I would write the games:
When in doubt, just pick LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers with the first pick. The fear every time the Lakers come to town is that James or Anthony Davis will take the night off. This year, however, it’s an early-season game and the Lakers won’t be playing as a pair, meaning the odds of both Lakers stars playing are pretty high.
Add in the potential of Bronny James with the team, the fact that this is an early season game before Toronto is out of the playoff race, and this could be one of the last times James plays in the city, it seems like a pretty easy pick to go at No. 1.
The Cleveland Cavaliers may not be a highly anticipated matchup, but it’s the Raptors’ first home game of the season and that should draw in viewers. This will be the first look at Scottie Barnes since his season-ending injury last year and the start of a new season tends to bring new hope. Barnes vs. Evan Mobley is an interesting storyline and it should be a relatively competitive matchup.
Toronto’s second game of the season will be another homecoming for Kyle Lowry and Nick Nurse. Given that no former fan favorites are making their first return to Toronto this season, picking the Philadelphia 76ers with a healthy Joel Embiid this early in the year seems like a good choice. We don’t know how much more Lowry will play in Toronto, so if I were a TV executive, I’d be picking this one early in the draft.
This is where the draft starts to get really tough and complicated. All of the other big Raptors games are against football games and that’s going to hurt ratings significantly. I’d rather take the Pacers’ first game of the year, but it’s a Monday against a Dallas Cowboys game, so I’ll settle for Game 2.
It won’t be as spectacular as Pascal Siakam’s first return to Toronto, but it’s still a former Raptors legend coming home in what should be a relatively competitive game. It might not be the most exciting game, but considering it’s not a game against football or the Maple Leafs, I think it’s the right choice.
I try to avoid Thursday, Monday or Sunday football games, so I opted for the Boston Celtics’ first game in Toronto on Wednesday, January 15th. They’re the defending champions and one of Toronto’s biggest rivals in a game that doesn’t involve football or the Maple Leafs. Boston should have the best team in the East this year, and even without a true superstar player, the Celtics should bring enough power to draw viewers on an otherwise quiet night.
