OKC Thunder: NBA Power Rankings week 10 – All-Star break edition

Toronto Raptors:

Week 10: 1-2
Won vs: Rockets 122-111
Lost to: 76ers 102-109,  Heat 108-116
* Game versus Bulls postponed due to health and safety protocols

Opponents this week: *Pistons, Celtics with the potential for both games to be postponed

Offensive Rating: 113.1 (9th) | Defensive Rating: 110.8 (14th) | Net Differential: +2.3 (9th)

Just as the Raptors began to find a rhythm they got hit by more adversity as Nick Nurse and five of his coaching staff are out. One coach tested positive for COVID-19 and that wiped out the front row of assistants due to contact tracing (and potentially positive tests since then).

Initially, the only player affected was Pascal Siakam, but following the win versus Houston the Sunday match versus the Bulls was postponed because Toronto didn’t have the league minimum eight players available.

This week is already affected as well with the Tuesday Pistons match tentatively moved to Wednesday which will mean the Raptors have to play a back-to-back set with Boston on the backside if they can get eight players on the court.

It’s been a tough adjustment for the club with some players only just finding housing this past month.  Keeping everyone healthy has also been problematic with many in the core five missing games. In February, Lowry missed four games, OG Anunoby eight games  (11 in total), and Siakam out this last game and for the next while quarantining.

Rumors of Lowry being shopped are far less likely than the Raptors being buyers or picking up a big via the buyout market. That said, Nick Nurse’s tweak to use Siakam at the five works for the majority of opponents (aside from the Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokic) lineups. Prior to the Sunday games, the Raptors ranked 11th defensively.