The Toronto Raptors are entering the 2022-23 NBA season on the heels of last year’s disappointing—albeit expected—first-round defeat to the Philadelphia 76ers.
Led by superstar Joel Embiid and emerging rookie Tyrese Maxey, the 76ers easily dispatched the rising Raptors in six games. Philly is entrenched among the league’s elite teams and should once again compete for a championship this season.
The Raptors are not yet this calibre of a team. However, they have the pieces to make some noise in the ultra-competitive Eastern Conference this year.
While Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet, and 2021-22 Rookie of the Year Scottie Barnes aren’t the second coming of the James-Wade-Bosh trio, they’re a truly talented trifecta capable of leading their squad to 50 wins at their best.
Siakam rebounded nicely after a miserable 2020-21 season. He heard those doubting his ability to be the team’s first option and responded by posting per-game averages of 22.8 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 5.3 assists, earning himself All-NBA Third Team honours.
Now, entering the 2022-23 season, Siakam will look to continue his growth by refining his three-point shot and decision-making—turnovers continue to plague him.
Meanwhile, VanVleet anchored the Raptors last season with per-game averages of 20.3 points and 6.7 assists while knocking down 38 per cent of his triples. He’s firmly established himself as an elite defensive point guard after posting back-to-back seasons of 1.7 steals per game.
For VanVleet to build on his all-star campaign, he must find more consistency with his shot inside the three-point line. His overall field goal percentage of .403 reflects how difficult it can be for an undersized guard to generate offence at the rim.
Lastly, Scottie Barnes should focus on one thing: staying healthy.
In his excellent rookie campaign, the six-foot-nine forward put up 15 points per game to go along with 7.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists. However, his value often went beyond the stat sheet as he matched up against the opposition’s premier players on defense.
Unfortunately, an ankle injury suffered in the first game of last year’s playoffs kept him out of a few games and limited him when he returned. Pre-season reports indicate this injury may not yet be fully in the rear-view mirror.
If these three can stay healthy for most of the season, the Raptors will be well-positioned to compete for a top-six seed once again in the East. If not, buckle up.
OG Anunoby and Gary Trent Jr., their other two key players, are high-upside ballers with extremely low floors that are hardly dependable.
Anunoby is a fantastically athletic 3-and-D wing whose physical style of play consistently limits his ability to stay on the court. His running mate Trent Jr. is maddeningly inconsistent: he’s equally likely to drop 40 points as he is 8 on 2-17 shooting.
Even bigger questions exist at the centre position.
Precious Achiuwa, who came over in the Kyle Lowy sign-and-trade, brought the energy and flashed signs of an improved three-point stroke in the second half. However, he’s criminally undersized at six-foot-eight and prone to frustrating mental errors.
The Raptors’ lack of a true seven-footer often has them rolling out “small ball” lineups that are easily exploited by teams with dominant big men—cough, 76ers, cough.
As it has been since the 2019 departure of Kawhi Leonard, the Raptors depth is also a serious question mark heading into the season.
The once-vaunted “Bench Mob” has become the starting lineup, leaving the likes of Chris Boucher, Thaddeus Young, Malachi Flynn, and newcomer Otto Porter Jr. to soak minutes.
It’s not the worst group of bench players in the NBA, but it’s a second unit clearly lacking a spark plug capable of creating offense in isolation. Gone are the days of having perennial Sixth Man of the Year, Lou Williams, coming into the game to put up twenty points.
It’s this lack of high-impact talent that will ultimately hold the Raptors back.
The cream of the crop in the East—Milwaukee, Philly, Boston, Brooklyn—have the stars to takeover games and the depth to manage injuries, off-nights, and foul trouble. The Raptors’ lack of depth puts an unsustainable amount of pressure on their core guys.
Nonetheless, they’re a team ready to battle. Don’t expect them to recapture the glory days of 2019, but their road to the playoffs should at least be entertaining.
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Basketball, pro sports, raptors, season preview
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