Welcome to another season of The Rap-Up! This is the 8th season of my weekly post, where I preview the week ahead for Toronto Raptors games.
There’s a weird feeling in the air surrounding Scotiabank Arena.
Masai Ujiri is gone. Toronto’s season starts on the road for the first time in 14 years. After spending one season in rebuild mode, the team is ratcheting up the intensity (not just on the defensive end) with the hopes of returning to the playoffs. Brandon Ingram will finally make his Raptors debut.
Oh, and there’s a World Series happening down the road!
If the Toronto Blue Jays have taught us anything during this magical season, it’s that success can come quicker than expected if everything breaks right. Stars turn into superstars. Rookies and young prospects improve. Coaches pull all the right levers. Competition takes a step back or underachieves. Sprinkle in a touch of 2019 Championship vibes, and the feeling becomes palpable, nationwide.
Remember, the Blue Jays started the season with low expectations and jumped out to a very slow start. Their hardcourt cousins have a difficult schedule to start the season. Let’s take a look at how things fare in opening week.
October 22 @ Atlanta Hawks
Flashback all the way to Boxing Day 2011 (strike-shortened season) for the last time Toronto opened its season on the road. The Raptors were still 522 days away from hiring Masai Ujiri. Toronto’s starting 5 included the late Rasual Butler, and the team leader in minutes played that day was James Johnson (off the bench, no less).
Andrea Bargnani may have been ahead of his time. Outside shooting 7-footers is much more common in today’s NBA. Case and point, Kristaps Porzingis. Atlanta was the surprise winner of Boston’s fire sale, nabbing Porzingod in a 3-team deal with Brooklyn, only giving up Georges Niang, Terrence Mann, Drake Powell, and a 2031 second-rounder.
The Hawks are this year’s sleeper-pick-that-will-likely-disappoint, taking over the title occupied by the Orlando Magic last year. Larry Nance Jr and Caris Levert signed elsewhere, while Clint Capela was traded to Houston. In addition to adding Porzingis, Atlanta beefed up the perimeter with the additions of Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Luke Kennard. Just as important, if not more, is the return of Jalen Johnson. He was playing like an All-Star before going down with a season-ending shoulder injury in late January.
The pressure to compete and take advantage of a depleted conference is higher in Atlanta. After firing GM (and former Raptor) Landry Fields, the Hawks hired Onsi Saleh, who previously worked with the Golden State Warriors during their most recent championship run. Saleh has made his mark with the franchise and positioned the team to succeed in 2025-26.
Fun fact that may only interest me
Nickeil Alexander-Walker showed his cousin, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, some love and waited in line to buy a pair of his new shoes. I love this on so many levels, but mostly for Canada Basketball!
Prediction
This is such an intriguing matchup because, while both teams have expectations to improve on last year’s standing, the Hawks have loftier goals and, thus, more pressure. Atlanta added more big names than Toronto, already had a playoff-calibre team (lost in the final play-in game to Miami last year), and has already been Conference Finalists with Trae Young at the helm. However, a Toronto upset is absolutely in the cards. Immanuel Quickley’s added bulk and defensive improvement, along with Jamal Shead’s aggressive defense will make life rough for Ice Trae. Reigning Most Improved Player (and 2nd-place vote-getter for Defensive Player of the Year), Dyson Daniels, will have his hands full with a rejuvenated Brandon Ingram. The Raptors’ budding chemistry overcomes the star power of the Hawks as Toronto wins and covers the +5.5 spread.
October 24 vs Milwaukee Bucks
What a time to be in downtown Toronto!
The Raptors’ home opener falls on the same night as Game 1 of the World Series. As if parking wasn’t expensive enough, the Blue Jays’ first appearance in the championship series in 32 years will certainly set record prices throughout the downtown core. This may not be the case here, but my cousin in Seattle paid $100 USD for parking at Game 4 of the ALCS. Gulp!
Inside Scotiabank Arena, it should be a loud, raucous crowd for several reasons. Giannis Antetokounmpo is somehow still with the Bucks. He has spent most of the offseason fielding questions about his future in Milwaukee. After Damian Lillard tore his Achilles during last season’s playoffs, Giannis’ dreams of winning another title appeared to be with another franchise.
While the world waits for Giannis to request a trade (at this point, I feel like he’s too nice to ever request a trade), Jon Horst will continue trying to make fetch happen build a championship team around the Greek Freak. He managed to steal Myles Turner from the Pacers to supplant the loss of long-time frontcourt mate, Brook Lopez. Milwaukee also signed Cole Anthony and Gary Harris because when you lose a magical guard like Lillard, the only solution is to get a pair of Magic Guards (sorry, the season is just starting. Give me more time to get into mid-season form).
Fun fact that may only interest me
You have to hand it to Jon Horst. Lillard’s injury — and ultimately his buyout/departure — should have handicapped his ability to build a functional roster around Giannis. He’s managed to pick up the best Center on the market and some serviceable guards.
In case that wasn’t enough to appease the face of the franchise, Horst also signed his brothers (plural), Thanasis and Alex (formerly of the Raptors 905). This marks the first time in NBA history that 3 brothers have been on the same NBA team at the same time.
So, if/when Giannis asks out, would it be a package deal for the 3 brothers?
Prediction
Say what you will about Milwaukee’s front court. It may be the best in the conference. But Toronto has Milwaukee beat in every other area. Quickley will be fine with whoever Milwaukee starts at point. RJ Barrett vs Gary Trent Jr will be fun, but ultimately the Canadian should outperform his former teammate. Ingram or Scottie Barnes will have their way with Kyle Kuzma. All things are coming up “Toronto” on Friday night as the Raptors beat the Bucks and cover the -1.5 spread.
October 26 @ Dallas Mavericks
Around this time last year, Masai Ujiri uttered the word “rebuild” and shifted the entire focus of the franchise towards one goal: Poop for Coop!
Cooper Flagg was already impressing NBA superstars before he played a single game for Duke. Flagg was part of the US Selects team that scrimmaged with the US Olympic team. He not only held his own but outplayed some of the best players in the world. There was no letdown in his freshman season with the Blue Devils. Flagg led his school to the ACC title, a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, and won ACC Player of the Year.
As luck would have it (at least that’s what the NBA calls it), the Dallas Mavericks — fresh from inexplicably trading away Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis — were able to replenish its superstar cupboard by winning the draft lottery….despite having the fourth-lowest odds of 1.8%.
With Kyrie Irving out until 2026 with a torn ACL, Nico Harrison was able to replace some of that offense by signing D’Angelo Russell.
Fun fact that may only interest me
Dallas has a pair of Canadian guards on the roster headed in opposite directions. Ryan Nembhard, Andrew’s brother, went undrafted in June but signed on with the Mavs on a two-way contract. The younger Nembhard was a star last season with Gonzaga, leading the NCAA in assists per game.
On the other end of the spectrum is Dalano Banton. The Toronto native was not re-signed by Portland and was signed & waived by the Mavericks. Dallas holds his G-League rights (Texas Legends), so we’ll see if Banton can work his way back into the league.
Prediction
The toughest time to face Anthony Davis is the beginning of the season. You know, before he has his annual trips to the injury list. With the freshness of a new season, AD will be a tough cover for Jakob Poeltl on the perimeter and Barnes in the post. As much as I would love to see how Collin Murray-Boyles would perform guarding Davis, he’s already out for the season opener with a forearm strain and may not be 100% by Sunday. Dallas beats the visiting Raptors and covers the -6.5 spread.
Last season: 38-44
