There used to be a feeling that coursed through the halls of Scotiabank Arena. Even when the faces changed on the court or on the sideline, that electricity remained.
Whatever it was, the aura eventually
dissipated and the Toronto Raptors are either a victim of this new reality or the reason for it.
The Raptors have a chance to course correct, both in terms of their presence at home and in the standings, when they begin a five-game homestand starting with the Golden State Warriors on Sunday.
While they’ve struggled at home in the last two seasons, Toronto spent the last decade building a basketball sanctuary on Canadian soil. The Raptors have only one losing season at home in the last ten years, accumulating a .627 win percentage. Their ‘worst’ of these nine seasons consisted of a 24-17 record in 2021-22.
This year’s iteration of the team is 8-7. A five-game stretch at home earlier in the season – a byproduct of the NBA Cup matchup against the New York Knicks – resulted in the Raptors going 1-4. Toronto has dropped five straight contests at home.
Ahead of the tip-off scheduled for 3:30 p.m. EST on Sportsnet, here are three additional storylines to look forward to.
Still missing an anchor
With Jakob Poeltl out, the Raptors will be without their starting centre for a third consecutive game, a part of a stretch that includes five of the last six matchups. Sandro Mamukelashvili has been spectacular as a fill-in starter. He’s averaging 17.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists and nearly four three-pointers in the last four games Poeltl has missed. While Mamukelashvili’s inspired play couldn’t help the Raptors get past the Washington Wizards on Dec. 26, the team hopes that Collin Murray-Boyles potential return from illness will bolster the frontcourt. Murray-Boyles recorded the first double-double of his career against the Wizards, while setting a career-high in offensive (9) and total rebounds (12).
RJ Barrett is listed as questionable but he’ll likely miss his 16th straight game. Even if Barrett somehow returns to action, it wouldn’t surprise anyone for him be under some kind of minutes restriction. Toronto is 6-9 without the Canadian in the lineup.
Warriors rising or reeling?
The Warriors plan to manage De’Anthony Melton’s knee injury, ruling him out ahead of their game against the Raptors. Melton came off the bench and scored 16 points in 24 minutes in their previous game, a 126-116 win over the Dallas Mavericks.
Brandin Podziemski is listed as probable with an abdominal contusion. The third-year guard is producing the best shooting efficiency of his young career and continues to be an integral part of the Warriors’ bench.
Golden State has experienced a turbulent season up to this point. They’re currently enjoying a high – having won three games in a row – but their other out-of-character performances distract from the team’s success.
The Warriors have dropped games to the Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings, and all three of their matchups against the Portland Trail Blazers.
The team is still a noteworthy player in the Western Conference post-season race. When the stain of their prior defeats is wiped away, a glimmer still shines through. It’s just a different kind of glow in comparison to the last few seasons.
Golden State is currently 20th in offensive rating, its worst ranking since 2020-21. They’re also 17th in pace, matching last year’s result. Where the Warriors are excelling is on the other side of the court. They’re currently third in defensive rating, their best ranking since the championship season in 2021-22, during which the Warriors were rated number one.
Who are the Raptors?
While the Warriors are leaning on a different identity to stay afloat in the treacherous Western Conference, the Raptors seemingly shuffle between different personalities.
Toronto held the Miami Heat to a season-low 91 points on Dec. 23 and followed that up two days later by giving up 138 points to the lowly Wizards. Between opponents figuring out how to deal with their extended pressure and exploiting a lack of an interior presence, the Raptors haven’t been able to commit to an identity despite ranking seventh in defensive rating.
Outside of Scottie Barnes, a scrappy Jamal Shead who has been assigned too heavy a workload in his second year and an inexperienced rookie in Murray-Boyles, the Raptors don’t have defenders who visibly pop on screen.
The Raptors are a flawed offensive group, even when Barrett returns, and the defence must sort itself out if they want to remain ahead of play-in territory.
