The Toronto Raptors landed in a favorable spot when Emirates NBA Cup play began, and that draw could set them up for a fast start.
Toronto sits in East Group A with the Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, Milwaukee Bucks, and Brooklyn Nets. On paper, it’s a far friendlier path than Group B, where the New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat, and Indiana Pacers are set to battle in what looks like the toughest collection of teams in the East. The Raptors also caught a break with their group opponents, since the Bucks and Nets were ranked 28th and 29th, respectively, in ESPN’s latest power rankings.
The opener comes Friday against Orlando, and the timing lines up well for Toronto. The Raptors just handled the Magic 129-99 on Wednesday, so they already know what worked. Orlando will have a chance to adjust, but the Magic remain short-handed without Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs, and Toronto has already shown it can put them away.
That earlier win was the Raptors’ first truly efficient shooting night of the season. They hit 50% from the field and 43% from 3-point range, controlled the paint, and limited Franz Wagner to 15 points on 4-of-11 shooting.
They did all that even with Jakob Poeltl and Collin Murray-Boyles dealing with foul trouble. Both bigs should be in a better spot next time around.
There’s still an area Toronto can sharpen up, though. The turnovers didn’t sink them against Orlando, but they still gave away 15 of them, which led to 23 points the other way. The Magic only turned it over 20 times, so that margin could matter a lot more if the game tightens up.
Detroit looks like the real obstacle in the group. The Pistons are 4-1 and back atop the Eastern Conference standings, with wins over the Boston Celtics, the Miami Heat by 17, and the Philadelphia 76ers 106-93 in their first three games. Their only slip came against the New York Knicks before they responded by beating the Charlotte Hornets.
With the Magic banged up and the Bucks and Nets looking less imposing, Detroit stands out as the Raptors’ biggest test in group play. Only four teams per conference move on to the knockout rounds: the group winners and one wild card, given to the best record among the second-place teams.
In Other News...
Ex-Celtic Could Add A New Twist To Torontos Kawhi Push
Kawhi Leonards arrival in Toronto has already come with a little extra drama, and the first chapter wont even include him on the floor right away. After the NBAs investigation slowed the trade from the Clippers, the Raptors finally got their star in place, only to learn he will miss at least a week because of swelling in his left knee, though no acute injury was found. For a team trying to build momentum around a bold swing, the timing has hardly been ideal.
Now the front office may not be done reshaping the roster around Leonard. There is speculation that Toronto could look into a trade for veteran guard Jrue Holiday, a move that would add another proven piece and give the Raptors a different kind of balance alongside their new centerpiece. It is the sort of idea that can change the feel of a season quickly, and it gives Toronto another layer to monitor while Leonard waits to make his debut. [Read more 🡒]
Raptors Win Came With One Frontcourt Concern Fans Can't Ignore
Scottie Barnes gave Toronto the kind of two-way lift it needs most nights, finishing with 28 points and six rebounds while making his presence felt on the defensive end. RJ Barrett did a lot of the early damage, piling up 21 points in the first half to help set the tone as the Raptors beat Orlando and picked up a win that looked encouraging for much of the night.
Even with the result in hand, the frontcourt issues were hard to miss. Jakob Poeltl and the other bigs had trouble holding up defensively and ran into foul problems, a reminder that Toronto can still look vulnerable inside even when its perimeter creators are rolling. For a team trying to stack wins, that mismatch in the middle is the kind of concern that can linger long after the final buzzer. [Read more 🡒]
Raptors Suddenly Have A Real Jakob Poeltl Problem At Center
Trayce Jackson-Davis gave the Raptors something to think about in a recent game, and not just because he filled the box score. In 20 minutes off the bench, the backup center posted 6 points, 11 rebounds and 3 blocks, while Jakob Poeltl started and logged only 10 minutes with 2 points and 2 rebounds. For a Toronto team still sorting through its rotation with Kawhi Leonard sidelined, that kind of imbalance at center is hard to ignore.
The bigger question is how the Raptors want to handle the position going forward, especially as they keep testing different options to preserve flexibility. Poeltl remains the established starter, but Jackson-Davis has at least made the competition feel real, and the staff now has to decide whether those minutes should stay split as they were or shift in a way that reflects recent production more than role hierarchy. [Read more 🡒]