Things are about to get more challenging.
Not just because the Toronto Raptors have 81 games left in the regular season and 17 road trips ahead, but also due to the fact that there won’t be many matchups against teams like the Chicago Bulls – who were easily defeated by the Raptors on opening night – this year.
This change is intentional by the NBA.
The Washington Wizards, who struggled with only 15, 18, and 17 wins over the last three seasons?
That team is gone. While they might not be favorites to reach the NBA Finals or even make it to the Play-In Tournament, their days of tanking are over. They’ll face off against the Raptors with a lineup that includes three solid seven-footers: Anthony Davis, De Andre Ayton, and Alex Sarr, all while Trae Young runs the show.
With Davis and Young both acquired via trade last season as part of Washington’s shift from despair to mediocrity, they now have experienced veterans with a combined total of 14 All-Star selections.
The Wizards kicked off their season with a win against Milwaukee Wednesday, led by Davis’s impressive 34 points and 12 rebounds alongside Young’s contribution of 20 points and 13 assists.
Having just celebrated their own victory over Chicago, Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic hadn’t yet focused on their game against Washington. However, this matchup reflects a new reality in the NBA that aims for what they call a ‘parity era’: truly weak teams might soon become history.
Upset by rampant tanking and uncompetitive basketball that plagued recent seasons as teams went too far in ‘building through the draft,’ the NBA took steps to end this trend.
Last season’s situation-where nine out of thirty teams were deliberately losing games by resting star players or sidelining them for extended periods (Davis and Young managed only five games together since arriving in February and January)-was clearly unacceptable for league officials.
The league plans to revise draft lottery rules so that teams finishing at the bottom three spots in each conference will face worse odds than those finishing between spots ten through four. Even struggling teams will need to put forth real efforts to win games.
This development raises questions about how it might impact the Raptors early in this season-at least until they can demonstrate their ability to compete effectively against stronger opponents across the league.
The Bulls-facing issues like youthfulness coupled with size deficits-are definitely not among those formidable competitors this year.
This means that Toronto’s commanding win was consistent with their performance from last season when they finished with a respectable record of 46-36 largely thanks to victories over similar struggling teams.
Toronto posted an impressive record of 19-5 against nine teams known for aggressive tanking last year. One notable loss came at the hands of Dallas before they decided to pivot mid-season; Davis tallied up an impressive performance then with 25 points alongside ten rebounds during that rout against Toronto.
In stark contrast, Toronto only managed a dismal record of 3-22 when facing off against top-tier squads from both conferences last year-the East’s top three and West’s top six.
If they aspire towards reaching fifty wins or even matching last year’s tally of forty-six wins again, they’ll need significant improvement in those areas while still maintaining dominance over weaker competition too.
This sets up an interesting mini-trip through Washington followed by Minnesota coming up next on their schedule.
The Wizards successfully executed their tanking strategy by amassing promising young talent-including Canadian national team prospects Will Riley and Keyshawn George-before clinching first overall pick AJ Dybantsa during last year’s lottery draw.
Now adding veterans like Davis and Young alongside established names such as Ayton, Khris Middleton, and Justin Champagnie into mix, their ambitions revolve around competing seriously moving forward.
A similar narrative unfolds across several markets throughout NBA landscape: Teams like Indiana (recovering post-injury woes involving Tyrese Haliburton), Memphis, Uta h, and Dallas are eager either toward winning outright or determinedly avoiding relegation zone status altogether.
The Raptors seem well-prepared navigating deeper competitive waters-they didn’t acquire Kawhi Leonard just aiming keep pace amongst clubs gunning merely securing play-in slots!
If reaching aspirations associated higher seeds whilst eyeing potential Eastern Conference Championship title-their fortunes could hinge upon performances delivered versus squads which previously granted easy victories without much resistance!
No one exemplified this tendency better than Wizards whose previous campaign culminated within startling slump wherein concluded stretch resulted merely one solitary triumph accompanied twenty-six losses !
However pertaining standpoint regarding current iteration rests firmly belief : These aren’t same old wizards ! With hopes soaring high towards achieving great heights once again, this ongoing necessity maintain superiority particularly lower echelon counterparts proves essential-while simultaneously increasing complexity expected tasks ahead.
Eager readiness exhibited: The Raptors enjoyed relatively long practice session Thursday preceding afternoon departure headed towards Washington. All participants accounted including Leonard having undergone full workout following appearance logged minutes played totaling twenty-four versus Bulls. The seasoned player acknowledged himself still knocking off rust building capacity getting further into gameplay post gradual ramp-up leading into regular action commencing.
A bit playful joking : Scottie Barnes drew laughter initiating pre-game address directed crowd mimicking Kawhi Leonard replicating Serge Ibaka iconic “What it do baby” moment-a clip captured post-championship run back around two thousand nineteen. Barnes didn’t notify neither Leonard nor Ibaka (who attended sitting courtside) beforehand stating simply:”I was just trolling, to be honest.” As he showcased shuffle-moves introduction:”I want fun; I’m troll. I go out there being me.”
Sage advice offered : Ja’Kobe Walter finds humor knowing he’s barely two years removed debuting initially drafted nineteenth overall becoming one-and-done prospect sharing insights rookie Allen Graves making his own debut recently chosen at number nineteen stage. Walter recalls nerves evident entering first matchup stating,”I remember when I was rookie I felt super anxious stepping onto court which expected but ultimately told him ‘you’ve done this your whole life so go play your game! You’re elite rebounder, great hands, get involved accordingly!’”
Taking note received : Graves ended evening tally five rebounds four offensive along three blocks paired steal all achieved within nineteen minutes effort!
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