The Toronto Raptors had managed to stay among the top teams in the Eastern Conference through the first few months of the season despite the loss of Kawhi Leonard this past summer.
Thanks in part to veteran contributions from Kyle Lowry, Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka and significant improvement from the likes of Fred VanVleet and Pascal Siakam, the Raps looked formidable.
That seemed to change when Gasol, Siakam and Norman Powell went down with injuries. Siakam's absence loomed especially large because he was playing at an MVP level. But Toronto have managed to win despite all their injuries.
Lowry credits the Raptors' professionalism in helping them withstand a number of setbacks (via Tim Bontemps of ESPN):
“We've got pros,” Raptors guard Kyle Lowry told ESPN. “We've got guys who don't care what people say. We've got guys that kind of just don't give a f— and just go out there and work.
“Like tonight, Oshae Brissett, no one knows who the hell he is and he comes in and steps up. Chris [Boucher] has been playing great. Freddy [VanVleet] had a rough start but finished strong.
“We have guys that just don't care. We are going to go play. No matter what, where, how, we're going to go play.”
To Lowry's point, Brissett made just his seventh appearance on Saturday night against the Boston Celtics, but he played a season-high 14:52 and managed to pull down six boards. Boucher's minutes have also been scrambled, but he is averaging 17.8 points, 11.9 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per-36 minutes.
The Raptors may not have one definitive superstar of Leonard's caliber — though Siakam could eventually reach those heights — but they are showing strength in numbers.
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