NBA Power Rankings: OKC Thunder and peers jockey for position
. 51-23. Previous: 5th. Toronto Raptors. 5. team. 81
If you’ve ever had a cat for a pet and experienced them catching a mouse you’ll know they’d rather torment the poor mouse and bat it around then kill it.
That, in a nutshell, is how these Raptors feel down the stretch. Take the game Sunday versus the Hornets. Charlotte is desperate for a win but it was Toronto who came out sharper than a freshly cleaved butcher knife. In the Raptors first 11 shots they connected on 10 and assisted on all but one. Then they seemingly lost interest.
Trailing by 11 halfway through the fourth quarter Nick Nurse decides to throw out a lineup using Pascal Siakam at the center along with Kawhi at the four and spaced by Lowry, VanVleet, and Green. Within minutes the lead was in Toronto’s favor and the Hornets hadn’t scored. During this run FOUR blocks by Kawhi, Siakam (twice) and Green occurred.
In the end, a half court Hail Mary prayer shot was the only thing standing between Toronto and the victory. And, even that shot offers intrigue as Siakam altered the shot sending it into the backcourt and almost blocked Lamb’s heave.
My point – I wouldn’t want to be the mouse the Raptors will play in round one – because at that point it will be all business and no more cat play.
Schedule particulars:
Tankathon rank for schedule strength of remaining games: 30th
Games Remaining: 6 | Home: 2 | Road: 4
- Versus top 10 offenses: none
- Versus top 10 defenses: two
- Games facing teams over .500: one
- Last 10 games: 5-5
- Streak: Lost two
- Back to back sets: none
Key Stats:
Offensive Rating: 6th (112.3)
Defensive Rating: 7th (107.3)
Net Differential: 3rd ( +5.0)
Record: 2nd in EC
Home: 29-9 |Road: 22-14 | Back to back sets:12
Versus the East: 30-15 | Versus the West: 21-8
Week 23, 2-2: Won vs. Knicks, @Thunder, lost to Thunder, Hornets
On tap for week 24: vs. Bulls, @Knicks, @Bulls