I’ll start off by making a prediction.
The Toronto Raptors will make the playoffs as the 8th seed.
In their first 3 games they’ve been all over the place. They were blown out by a surprising Washington Wizards team that looks like a better team compared to last year when they were the 8th seed. They then hammered the Boston Celtics and made Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown look like bench players in their second game. In the 3rd game the Dallas Mavericks slow and somewhat boring yet methodical play outlasted the Raptors.
The East looks like it will be competitive in the bottom end of the bracket with the Chicago Bulls and Charlotte Hornets out to quick starts. Both teams have made impactful additions and their starts shouldn’t be a fluke.
The Raptors will get a big boost once Pascal Siakim returns. His absence has a silver lining since it gives OG Anonuby the chance to be the Raptors number 1 option. He struggled in the first two games but found a grove in the 3rd. Scottie Barnes looks like an excellent fit and a great selection in this years draft. He’s an extremely unique player. He plays with his head up and is always looking to make a pass that will give his team an advantage instead of just passing to pass. His long body allows him to defend multiple positions and when he is on the floor it just seems like there is less room for the opposition to operate offensively. He also has shown what looks like should be an extremely reliable mid-range jumper. Precious Achiuwa appears to be a solid and mobile center that can do a little bit of everything on offense.
I’m a Raptors Homer (team bias). So I think they could surprise once in the playoffs. They can create matchup head-aches. The Raptors management is excellent and they’ve made some shrewd and block-buster trades in the past. They have great pieces now and they’ve made a quick rebuild after having a down-year last year.
