The Toronto Raptors aren't exactly a team that you'd say has a decent chance of winning an NBA title right now, however, they are still a team to be feared with Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet, and Nick Nurse at the helm.
The Raptors are an odd team in that they have games where they beat championship-caliber opponents. They also play games in which they lose to teams who have no business being on the same court as them. We must give it to them and appreciate what they're doing, given that they've beaten several high-level teams this year. It does raise some concerns about them, however, given how poor they have been against some below-average teams.
Toronto will have to overcome a challenging schedule in order to win an NBA championship. Taking on the Milwaukee Bucks, Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers, Chicago Bulls, or the new-look Brooklyn Nets won't be easy. This group gets more invested in championship-caliber opponents, and they play a different style of basketball when they know they're up against one of the top teams in the NBA, based on what they've shown this season.
Do the Raptors have what it takes to shock teams in the Eastern Conference? Let's take a look at if they're pretenders or contenders.
Winning an NBA title is never easy. As we have seen with the past 20 champions, every team is going to need something significant to go their way. Whether that is an unfortunate injury to someone, or having guys on the roster step up more than they ever have. There is a reason why winning a championship is so hard, and a reason why we have seen crazy upsets in the past. If a team is going to win a title, they’re going to need everyone on their roster to be playing the best basketball they possibly can, and even sometimes that isn’t enough to get the job done. Matchups are always something that is going to play a major factor, and some teams just know how to get the job done against certain teams when it matters most.
*Watch NBA games LIVE with fuboTV (click for free trial)*
Are The Raptors Pretenders Or Contenders?
Contenders
2. Nick Nurse
One of the reasons the Toronto Raptors have been so successful in recent seasons is because of Nick Nurse, who is perhaps the best defensive coach in the NBA. His game plans for specific players on other teams are incredible, and he really makes life difficult for some of the other Eastern Conference stars.
Because Nick Nurse knows exactly what he needs to do to keep this team successful, Toronto will be a good playoff team. Obviously, the guys they'll be playing, like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Durant, and Joel Embiid, will play like the players they are regardless of the defensive schemes used against them, but Nick Nurse will make it difficult for all of them. Whether it be double teams, walls, or something else, Nick Nurse will make sure to make it tough on them.
When all of the elite guards are taken into account, Nurse has a few options to throw at the opposition. While their defense hasn't always been excellent, he does an outstanding job of guarding premier scorers when it matters most in the playoffs.
1. Siakam and VanVleet have both played at a high level.
If the Toronto Raptors are to have a shot in the playoffs, Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet will have to play their best basketball. There's no reason to doubt these guys' ability to succeed, as they've always done great against the best competition conceivable during the regular season.
The concern will be if VanVleet can be efficient, as there have been games when he hasn't been playing the way people expect and just missing too many shots.
Add in the fact that they've both previously played on championship teams, and they have a thorough understanding of what it takes to win in the playoffs.
Other Raptors players will definitely have to step up for them, but the reality is that if they are to succeed, their two best players will have to perform like they know they can.
Pretenders
1. Suffering loses to some really bad teams
The Raptors' biggest problem thus far has been their inconsistency and losses to bad teams. This is a significant problem because it is difficult for a team to turn things around at any moment.
They should be able to straighten this out based on how they've played against some of the best teams in the Eastern Conference, but they haven't been able to do it through 60 games of the regular season. Toronto needs to find a way to simply be better against teams they should easily beat, and they need to do so on a more consistent basis.
Follow Us
Subscribe
