The Toronto Raptors will have their work cut out for them next season as the organization prepares to open the year with the toughest opening month in the NBA.
Toronto opens the upcoming season with 10 of its first 12 games against teams from last year’s playoffs. That stretch includes a five-game road trip, all before the end of November. It could well be the kind of pivotal stretch for Toronto that could dictate what kind of season the Raptors have next year, all in the first month of the year.
Here’s what else stands out about Toronto’s schedule for next year:
Toronto has scheduled 15 consecutive games this year, which ranks 12th in the NBA, behind the 11 teams that will play 16 consecutive games next season. Of those games, Toronto will play nine consecutive games on the road and six at home. Six teams will play 13 consecutive games next season.
Toronto will play three games in four days more than any other team next year. The organization is tied with Denver, which will also play 13 three-game series in four days throughout the season.
Toronto will play 12 games with the Raptors at a rest disadvantage next season, compared to just 10 games with the Raptors at a rest advantage. Only two teams will play more games with a rest disadvantage than Toronto next season.
The Raptors aren’t scheduled to play on Feb. 6, this year’s trade deadline. It will be a travel day for the team between a home game against Memphis and the start of a road trip starting in Oklahoma City.
The league has announced only 80 of next season’s 82 games, with the remaining two games to be determined based on the results of the league’s NBA Cup.
