Toronto Raptors: 3 takeaways from NBA seeding schedule
By Paul Taylor
With the release of the NBA seeding schedule on Friday, we break down the Toronto Raptors’ games which will determine their seeding for the 2019-20 playoffs.
There is plenty of understandable concern about whether or not the NBA should be returning to action so soon, especially in a state which has been one of the worst hit recently by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In any event, as per CBC, the league released their full schedule of seeding games on Friday for the Toronto Raptors and the rest of the 22 teams who will participate in the remainder of the 2019-20 season.
As you can imagine there were a lot of talking points, especially for the Raptors. Here are our three takeaways from what Toronto will have to contend with, as they jostle for position ahead of the playoffs:
3) Facing the league’s best right out the gate
Despite the Raptors winning it all last season, the average Toronto sports fan still has a sense of impending doom when it comes to their professional teams. So when it was revealed that the Raptors would face the Los Angeles Lakers in their first game, it was almost expected.
While the Bucks have the NBA’s best record, the Lakers are arguably the strongest team in the league. This claim is helped by the lethal combination of LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
As much as most media analysts and odds makers have the Bucks making the NBA Finals from the East — and we understand why — the Raptors still have a solid chance. In this respect, it is important to face a potential finals opponent and see how you measure up.
We appreciate the players will have a lot of rust after so much time off but for what it’s worth, the Raptors have already faced the Lakers once this season. Led by Pascal Siakam’s 24 points, Toronto won 113-104, with the victory being more impressive for the fact it came in Los Angeles.
Going back to the rust factor, it is important to shake this off as quickly as possible so Toronto can get back into the groove. By comparison, the Lakers will have already played the Clippers two nights earlier and will be in better game shape, albeit against a well-rested Raptors team which will be fully fit after the long layoff.