10 Things after 10 Games (3rd) - Raptors '21 Season

1st 10 (6-4). 2nd 10 (3-7), 3rd 10 (5-5)

1. Not top-heavy, but not deep enough. All hands on deck! With OG still dealing with his injury and even though the Raptors have the likes of Fred VanVleet, Pascal Siakam, and Scottie Barnes, an injury to someone like Gary Trent Jr is enough to derail the rotation and team. It showed in some lackluster losses to Boston and Memphis but then were able to bounce back with Gary Trent Jr back to beat a Giannis-less Bucks.
   

2. High Highs and Low Lows There are some .500 teams that will beat everyone below them and lose to everyone below them. The Raptors have a tendency to play to their opponents and this is very apparent in 2 losses, a 1 point upset defeat to OKC, and then a 2 point nail-biting loss to BKN. One team is at the bottom of the West, while the other team is at the top of the East.
   

3. Still missing a consistent Center Whether it is due to injury or match-up dependency, the Center position has been an ever-rotating spot for the Raptors this season. From starting a small-ball center like OG or one of our "bigs" in Precious Achiuwa or Khem Birch to injuries forcing Chris Boucher into the starting lineup, there has been very little consistency from the position. Gone are the days of Jonas Valančiūnas, Marc Gasol, or Serge Ibaka anchoring the middle. Can anyone on the current roster fill this spot or will they need to acquire someone?
   

4. Will anyone from the bench step up? The return of Yuta Watanabe was promising, but his offense hasn't been at a level to secure his rotation spot off the bench. He will always bring it on the defensive end, but the Raptors need some bench production to help out the starters, especially if they are not fully healthy. Nick Nurse still doesn't seem to have confidence in either backup point guards Malachi Flynn or Delano Banton. Other than the bigs, any consistent production off the bench would be a blessing.
   

5. Scottie Barnes finding his footing on the team With the return of Pascal Siakam, Scottie Barnes has played more at the SF position with times as a small-ball C and sometimes a Point-Forward running the offense. He is still a rookie and with so many guys in and out of the lineup around him, he is having to adjust on a nightly basis. That said, he has been on a run of 12 games straight scoring in double digits, which is a good sign that he can always find his offense no matter the role.
   

6. Siakam is finally looking healthy! After a lowly 4 point game against Utah, Siakam has been on a run of strong performances averaging over 20+ points and contributing on the glass, playmaking, and on the defensive end. The chemistry between VanVleet and Siakam is evident from their pick and roll action and their knack for finding each other on the court.
   

7. Still trying to get Healthy Health and Safety Protocols aside, the Raptors still haven't been fully healthy this entire season. OG Anunoby returned for 1 game, but even then Khem Birch was out with injury and Pascal Siakam entered h&sp. The expectations for this season are still right around .500, but you'd like to see the full team together for a stretch to see what you have.
   

8. COVID / Health and Safety Protocol Games First, it was the cancellations of games against Chicago (x2) and Orlando that saw the Raptors only play 1 game in 11 days. Then the Raptors barely had enough healthy bodies to suit up against Cleveland, where 1 of your starters was a 10-day by the name of D.J. Wilson. It was only a 1pt deficit after the 1st quarter, but then eventually Cleveland's core took over and ran away with the game. Hopefully, most of the health and safety protocols are precautionary and everyone can return healthy and rested.
   

9. Satisfied with 2 games below .500 at 14-16? With the departure of long-time leader Kyle Lowry this off-season and all the injuries that the Raptors have had to deal with, I think most would be pretty satisfied with the current position that the Raptors are in. But for a team with higher aspirations, I think the potential that has shown glimpses will make everyone crave for more. A game here and a game there, the Raptors could be fighting for the 6th seed and a legit playoff spot.
   

10. Realistic expectations and purpose of the 2022 season Many have touted the Raptors to be a .500 team this year and with the East being stronger than years past, this would leave them on the bubble to be a play-in team for the 9th or 10th seed. With the 2022 NBA Trade Deadline on Thursday, February 10, the next 20 games will be very telling to see where the Raptors sit. I don't know if they would purposely drop out for higher draft odds again, but I am not sure if being a 9th or 10th seed is worth it either.

p.s. this was very delayed, we are 1 game away from the 40 game mark