Throughout the summer, the Toronto Raptors faced numerous questions from the media and basketball fans. What are the Raptors doing? Why are they spending so much money on a subpar team?
Well, it’s December, and Toronto has so far proven everyone outside Raptor fans wrong until their last two games. They were second in the Eastern Conference with a record of 14-5 and winning nine games in a row. But now they lost back-to-back games over the weekend and fell to third in the East with a 14-7 record.
The game against the Charlotte Hornets was close, even though the Raptors led most of the time. Toronto ultimately lost in overtime. The next night, the Raptors were blown out by 20 points by the New York Knicks. That raises the question of whether the Raptors’ early success was just a fluke.
The Knicks game was a test to see if Toronto could handle playing a title-contending team in the East, which they couldn’t. But that’s okay. It’s only one game. They can learn from it and be a better team. Even though it appears the Raptors have come back down to earth, they can still be a playoff team; it’s just that they’re inexperienced.
Fortunately, the Raptors had bounced back and won their game against the Portland Trail Blazers. That win helped Toronto regain the second seed in the East, bringing their win-loss record to 15-7.
One of the questions from the critics was how this team fit in. Well, it seems like the pieces fit, as Toronto ranks tenth in offensive rating and sixth in defensive rating. So, they’re basically a top 10 offensive and defensive team this season.
Another reason critics didn’t think the Raptors would be this good is that there were questions about Brandon Ingram. He was injured for most of last season. Can he stay healthy? There was also doubt that he fits in Toronto.
Currently, Ingram is healthy and playing exceptionally well. Ingram is averaging 21.8 points per game, 5.9 rebounds per game, and 3.7 assists per game. Even though these aren’t his best numbers, he’s getting the most attention in his career.
Maybe that’s because of his dating life, or more likely, how clutch he’s been this season. He’s 47.2 per cent in effective field goals in clutch situations. This includes his game-winning shot against the Indiana Pacers. Ingram’s resurgence is one reason why Toronto is playing well, but another reason is that the team is moving the ball.
The Raptors are fourth in assists with 29.9 assists per game. It also helps that their chemistry is great. Yes, Toronto has multiple scorers like Ingram, RJ Barrett, and Immanuel Quickley on the team, but what this squad is good at is passing, ball movement, and defense.
And I can’t forget about the franchise player of the Raptors, Scottie Barnes. Barnes is averaging 20.3 points per game, 7.9 rebounds per game, and five assists per game. Barnes and Ingram are having an All-Star play-type year.
Both players should be playing at the All-Star Game, but if one Raptor can only play, then it has to be Barnes. This team is built around him. Which is why he’s playing well. Barnes isn’t a scorer-first guy.
He might not be a great scorer for the rest of his career. But what he’s great at is being the facilitator of this squad. Plus, he doesn’t need to be the number one scorer when the Raptors have Barrett, Quickley, and Ingram on the team.
The Raptors don’t have a tough battle to be a top-six team in the East. The only teams that are a lock in the playoffs are the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Detroit Pistons, the Orlando Magic, and the New York Knicks. The Philadelphia 76ers, the Milwaukee Bucks, the Boston Celtics, the Indiana Pacers, and the Atlanta Hawks all have questions about their teams’ health.
The Raptors have injury issues as well, with Barrett being hurt and Jakob Poeltl not able to play back-to-backs because of his back issues, but their injuries aren’t affecting the team’s season. Poeltl is still able to contribute, and while it would be nice to have Barrett’s 19.1 points per game, they are still going to play great.
There are questions whether Paul George and Joel Embiid can stay healthy this season for the 76ers, Giannis Antetokounmpo is out two to four weeks with a right calf strain injury, plus there are reports that Antetokounmpo and his agent are discussing his future with the Bucks.
Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton may not play this season due to their torn Achilles injuries. And Trae Young is still out with his sprained MCL injury. All of these injuries give the Raptors the opportunity to go to the postseason this year.
It is unlikely that Toronto finishes the 2025-26 NBA season second in the East, but it’s not crazy to think that the Raptors could be a playoff team. As long as their two best players can keep playing well throughout the season and stay healthy, the Toronto Raptors will be in the postseason.
