The Toronto Raptors are one of only a few teams that can legitimately claim they’ve had it harder than any other NBA team this season. After entering the season with postseason expectations, they fell apart early and finally made the choice to tear down the top of their roster. After trade deadline deals landed Kelly Olynyk, RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and others in Toronto instead of Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby, Toronto still felt they had enough to push toward the Play-In Tournament.
That’s when things really began to fall apart. It started with Scottie Barnes, who suffered a broken hand on March 1 and required surgery that likely will keep him out for the rest of the season. Then Jakob Poeltl suffered a similar injury and required a similar surgery the very next game. Less than one week later, Chris Boucher suffered a torn MCL.
RJ Barrett, who tragically lost his younger brother, and Immanuel Quickley missed time for personal reasons and Jontay Porter only recently landed himself out of the mix amid a potential gambling scandal. With all of this, it’s no surprise that the Raptors are on an 11-game losing streak and could realistically threaten their franchise-worst 17-game losing streak.
Olynyk was the latest to speak about the crumbling season for the Raptors, and he did not hold back on how difficult and frustrating it has been, via Lindsay Dunn of City News Toronto:
“It’s been tough. It’s been a gauntlet of injuries, off-the-court stuff, hard-hitting stuff. It’s something you literally cannot prepare for. It’s tough to handle as players, staff, organization, but I think it’s one of those things that all in all it makes you stronger and it makes you come together as a unit and team more. That’s the way you have to use it.”
The frustration is certainly understandable, as it has left the Raptors in a state where they are no longer playing competitive basketball on a nightly basis. For a veteran like Olynyk, that can be particularly upsetting, as he was playing semi-competitively for the Utah Jazz prior to the trade deadline.
But things are certainly looking up for the Raptors in the offseason, as health — mixed with a pair of potential first-round picks — could put Toronto right back where they want to be.
Barrett and Quickley practicing for Raptors
Barrett and Quickley, who have both been out for some time now due to personal reasons, are nearing a return to the lineup. Both have now practiced with the team and are being ruled out on a game-to-game basis. Neither will play Wednesday night against the New York Knicks.
More must-reads: