For all the silver linings that can be found in the Toronto Raptors’ recent performances, such as how hard the team’s competed, the strong run OG Anunoby’s been on, or how well it’s appeared Khem Birch and Freddie Gillespie have fit in, the reality with this team is that they appear to be one that’s spinning its tires and slowly, painfully playing its way out of play-in tournament contention.
This week was always going to be challenging for the Raptors with the team in the midst of a murderer’s row of contests, but the Raptors entered the week just one game back of the Washington Wizards for 10th place in the Eastern Conference with some optimism that they might be able to turn things around.
After games against the Brooklyn Nets and Denver Nuggets, however, the Raptors are now 2.5 games back of Washington and things are beginning to look bleak. With three more games left on their gruelling Western Conference road trip that will see them face Utah Jazz and both L.A. teams, they’re going to have to bring out all the stops if they’re going to prevent themselves from sliding out of the play-in picture altogether.
Looking ahead to the Raptors’ schedule for next week, they have a potentially huge matchup coming up against the Wizards on Thursday, but in order to make that game mean something, Toronto will need to keep within striking distance, meaning that this weekend’s back-to-back slate against the Jazz and the Lakers will be absolutely vital.
If Toronto can pick up a win in one or both of those games, it’ll go a long way towards possibly setting up a big showdown with Washington back in Tampa with the N0. 10 seed potentially on the line.
Of course, this isn’t just a two-horse race as the Raptors also have to contend with the Chicago Bulls, who are 1.5 games ahead of the Raptors for 11th in the East. But with only nine games left in the regular season, the Raptors have no choice now but to just take care of what they can control, and then hope the Wizards and Bulls falter enough to give them an opportunity.
It’s not a great position to be in, but this is the unfortunate reality the Raptors made for themselves this season.
So, heading into the weekend, here’s a look at the situations that each of the Raptors, Wizards and Bulls face.
Toronto Raptors
Current record: 26-37
Games remaining: 9
Schedule this weekend: at UTA, at LAL
As mentioned before, the Raptors have a back-to-back against the Jazz and Lakers on Saturday and Sunday and, realistically, they don’t have a margin for error in those two games.
Sure, looking at Chicago’s weekend schedule, there’s a chance the Bulls could stumble there, but with the way the Wizards have been playing, and against weaker competition than either Toronto or Chicago will see, unless the Raptors can pick up at least one win over the weekend, their play-in dreams may all but mathematically be gone by the time Monday rolls around.
Raptors Newsletter
Chicago Bulls
Current record: 26-36
Games remaining: 10
Schedule this weekend: vs. MIL, at ATL
As frustrating as it’s been to see the Raptors spin their tires, the Bulls haven’t been much better and will play a Friday-Saturday back-to-back set this weekend against the Milwaukee Bucks and Atlanta Hawks.
Both are tough Eastern Conference teams who are in the legitimate playoff picture and will not let the Bulls off lightly.
This tough weekend slate could potentially be good news for the Raptors, but, unfortunately for Toronto, while on paper this back-to-back Chicago faces looks pretty challenging, it looks like they’ll be afforded a handicap. The Bulls will be seeing the Bucks on the second half of a back-to-back and Milwaukee could possibly be without two-time defending MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, as he sprained his right ankle on Thursday and didn’t return to the game.
Additionally, the Hawks have also been bit by the injury bug with key players Trae Young, Clint Capela, Bogdan Bogdanovic and Kevin Huerter all banged up. The foursome has either been listed as “questionable” or “out” for their Friday night game against the Philadelphia 76ers, thus making each of their availability for Saturday night’s tilt with Chicago also up in the air.
So even though Chicago will be playing a difficult-looking back-to-back on paper, there’s a chance they could catch a break in each of those games.
Washington Wizards
Current record: 28-34
Games remaining: 10
Schedule this weekend: at CLE, at DAL
Having won 11 of their last 13, including going on an eight-game win streak, the Wizards are in the driver’s seat to win the race for No. 10 in the East.
The standout play of Bradley Beal and Russell Westbrook during this 13-game run has the Wizards playing their best basketball of the season and there appears to be no stopping them at the moment.
They too have a Friday-Saturday back-to-back this weekend where they’ll see the Cleveland Cavaliers and Dallas Mavericks, two very winnable games for the Wizards who, with the way their playing right now, look like they could go up against just about any team in the league and feel like they can walk away with a victory.
And if Washington continues to trend upwards like this, the one-game lead the Indiana Pacers have over them for No. 9 in the Eastern Conference could quickly disappear, meaning the team the Raptors and Bulls will be looking to chase would then shift to the Pacers.
