Sports
The Raptors are a rising team, but the chances of them making it to the playoffs are very slim
BY KRISHNA MISTRY
As the National Basketball Association (NBA) season comes to a midpoint, we can see the progress many teams have made throughout the season. In the NBA, thirty teams compete: twenty-nine American teams and one Canadian team.
All competing teams are equally divided into the Eastern and Western Conferences. The teams in each conference compete with one another to proceed to the playoffs. The top six teams automatically advance to the playoffs in both conferences, and the two final spots are determined by play-in tournaments.
In the Eastern Conference, the standings are as follows: the Boston Celtics are in the lead with fifty-one wins, and the Washington Wizards are fifteenth with eleven wins. In the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunders are first with forty-seven wins, and the San Antonio Spurs are in last place with fourteen wins.
The Raptors are competing in the Eastern Conference, where they currently stand in twelfth with twenty-three wins. Though the Toronto Raptors have not won many games, there is still hope for a turnover, as they still have seventeen games remaining to play. With the departure of key players Kawhi Leonard and Serge Ibaka, the Raptors are still in the transition phase as a team.
This season has been a trial run for the Toronto Raptors, as they: lost some important players, had changes in the roster, adjustments in strategies, and the departure of their head coach. Nick Nurse, the head coach of the Toronto Raptors for ten years, was hired to coach the Philadelphia 76ers in June 2023. The Philadelphia 76ers are also in the Eastern Conference, where they are placed seventh overall with thirty-six wins.
Nurse departed, leaving the Raptors with their tenth head coach, Darko Rajaković. Rajaković has coached three teams previously before signing with the Raptors as their head coach. He began his coaching career when he was sixteen years old in Serbia. He then started coaching teams in 2009, where he coached the Espacio Torrelodones, the Tulsa 66ers, and was an assistant coach to the Oklahoma City Thunders.
With a fresh coaching style, the Raptors are seeking to get to the playoffs in the Eastern Conference, but the chances are slim with them in twelfth. Raptors are known for their determination and resilience on the court. This season, the Raptors have faced many obstacles, but they have overcome them and will continue to do so, which is one of the many strengths the Raptors have.
Over the years, the Raptors have been known for their tenacious defense, being able to intimidate opponents on the court, and giving their team a chance of winning.
The Toronto Raptors are also known for their adjustability, whether it is adjusting playing styles to match an opposing team, or integrating players into the roster seamlessly, but the most important thing that the Toronto Raptors are known for is the love they receive from many fans worldwide.
Though they are loved by many fans, the NBA is rumoured to be playing favourites. Head Coach Darko Rajaković shares at a conference, “What happened tonight, this is complete BS. This is a shame. Shame for the referees. Shame for the league to allow this. They had to win tonight? If that’s the case, just let us know so we don’t show up for the game. Just give them the win. What is happening over here during the whole season, I’ve been holding it back. It’s complete crap!”
Rajaković expresses his anger towards the league after the Raptors and Lakers game on January 10th, 2024, where the Lakers were allowed twenty-three attempts for a free throw in the fourth quarter while the Raptors were only allowed two. Rajaković was then fined $25,000 for speaking about this controversy publicly.
The Raptors are a rising team, but the chances of them making it to the playoffs are very slim. The Toronto Raptors have the opportunity to train and come back next season and give it their best.