The Rap-Up: The (T)ides of March

The Raptors continue the NBA’s easiest schedule with four more winnable games.

If you read the headline and came here for references to Shakespeare or Julius Caesar, I apologize for misleading you.

Certainly the Ides of March, namely the negative connotation of a bad omen, could be an appropriate term to describe this portion of the Toronto Raptors’ schedule.

But the Raptors have spat in the face of destiny lately.

In Orlando, a tie game in the clutch? Sure, let’s trot out a lineup of two rookies, two G-League players, and a journeyman Center.

Against Utah, the Jazz are making a comeback in the 4th? Sure, let’s abandon the tank strategy and keep Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley on the floor.

In Chicago, a 4-point lead with six seconds left? Sure, let’s close out aggressively at the three-point shooter.

Up is down. Down is up. From game-to-game and quarter-to-quarter, the Raptors continue flowing with the tides of the NBA’s turbulent draft lottery waters.

March 10 vs Washington Wizards

The healthy lead the Washington Wizards built themselves has dwindled down to a one game difference in the loss column between themselves, the Charlotte Hornets, and the New Orleans Pelicans.

It’s not like the Wizards have reeled off a flurry of victories. Since February 1st, they doubled their win total (wow) from 6 to 12 (oh). Despite having, not one, but TWO 16-game losing streaks this season, the Wizards may have to join their fellow bottom-dwellers and start benching their starters.

The notion of benching starters in Toronto means the young players will get more playing time. In Washington, the starters and the young players are one in the same!

Bilal Coulibaly, Bub Carrington, Alex Sarr, and Kyshawn George are 4 of the top 5 in average minutes played in Washington. None of them were born when LeBron James was drafted in 2003.

Fun fact that may only interest me

The Wizards might have been onto something when they used the 24th pick in last year’s draft on Kyshawn George.

George became the 5th Swiss-born player in the NBA. Each of the other 4 NBA players born in Switzerland — Clint Capela, Enes Kanter Freedom, Thabo Sefolosha, and Nikola Vucevic — all played at least 11 seasons in the NBA.

Prediction

Toronto’s cupcake schedule continues as they complete the doubleheader with the visiting Wizards. If you haven’t noticed by now, I’ve toned down the analysis in predictions against other lottery teams because you never know who’s playing or being benched. In any case, I think the teams split the doubleheader and Toronto covers the -3.5 spread.

March 12 vs Philadelphia 76ers

In preparation for this game, I suggest re-watching the 30-point comeback win against Dallas on December 22, 2019. Whether it’s marveling at Nick Nurse’s rotation choices in the fourth quarter or soaking in the brilliance of the Kyle Lowry + bench lineup, it will put you in the mood to cheer for those two again!

The Philadelphia 76ers have fallen on hard times this season. Joel Embiid is out for the season. Paul George is a shell (of a shell) of the player Daryl Morey signed to a 4-year/$212 million extension last Summer. Early Rookie of the Year favourite, Jared McCain, is out for the season.

The Sixers are now racing to the bottom of the standings. If they finish outside of the top 6 in the draft lottery, their draft pick will go to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The outcomes fall on both ends of the spectrum. If the Sixers lose their pick, it’ll be salt on the wound of a disastrous season. If the Sixers win the Cooper Flagg sweepstakes, it might be the end of NBA Twitter!

Fun fact that may only interest me

Quentin Grimes has played 227 games in his NBA career, including stops in New York, Detroit, Dallas, and now Philadelphia.

According to Basketball Reference’s Game Score, which measures a player’s productivity in a game, Grimes has already had three of his best five Game Scores since joining the Sixers.

He’s only played 12 games so far with Philadelphia.

Prediction

The same way I feel about Toronto when they play Boston (and Joel Embiid, although it’s different now), I’d like to think Nick Nurse feels the same way about playing the Raptors. In other words, tank or no tank, I cheer for Toronto to beat Boston every single time. I think Nurse throws the tank out of the window for one night, has Tyrese Maxey and Kyle Lowry suit up, and proceeds with beating his former team. Philadelphia covers the +1.5 spread.

March 14 @ Utah Jazz

Analyzing and previewing games has been so weird this season. Typically, seeing an opponent for the second time in a week would allow Toronto to fix what did not work or continue doing what did work. With lottery balls on the line, it’s quite the opposite.

The Raptors will look to improve reduce their efforts after defeating the Jazz on Friday!

• Bench Immanuel Quickley. Toronto’s Point Guard of the present and future needs to consider the Raptors’ future and sit this one out. IQ torched Utah on Friday, scoring 34 points and hitting six triples. The only Utah guard who missed the game was Jordan Clarkson — not a defensive stopper anyway — so a repeat performance by Quickley would definitely be possible if he played.
• Start Orlando Robinson (again). Keeping Jakob Poeltl glued to the bench — Toronto’s 2nd-most important player on the court — is always recommended during this tank. Starting 10-day signee, Colin Castleton, could also be an option. However, during Friday’s clash, Castleton did a slightly better job of corralling defensive rebounds than Robinson. Assuming Walker Kessler plays (a huge assumption), the Raptors decrease their chances of winning if Utah’s bigs continue dominating on the offensive glass.

Fun fact that may only interest me

On Friday, Walker Kessler set a Raptors opponent record by hauling in 13 offensive rebounds.

Toronto has played 38 games this season where they have not allowed 13 offensive rebounds total!

Prediction

Toronto only has seven road wins. Utah only has eight home wins. Rock meet hard place.

The Raptors’ tanking strategy is easier to execute on the road as they don’t have to worry about disappointing fans at Scotiabank Arena. With that in mind, I’d expect more blatant efforts to lose, like benching Scottie Barnes in the fourth quarter or sitting him out with a phantom injury. Utah covers the -3.5 spread.

March 16 @ Portland Trailblazers

I like Portland.

I like that they’re spitting in the face of the lottery and capitalizing on the misfortunes of others. While the injury bug has decimated Dallas’ and San Antonio’s play-in hopes, Portland has turned up the intensity and is knocking on the door for the 10th-seed.

I like that Robert Williams has overcome injuries that limited him to 41 games over the previous two seasons and is back to Timelord-ing.

I like that Shaedon Sharpe is blossoming as a scorer and providing hope to Portland AND Team Canada basketball fans.

I like that DeAndre Ayton was not shut down for the season and could return just in time……for my fantasy basketball playoffs!

Fun fact that may only interest me

Scoot Henderson has started to show promise this season in hopes of fulfilling the expectations thrust upon a third-overall pick. He currently ranks 2nd in the NBA in total assists off the bench. What’s even more interesting is the player in 4th.

Prediction

The Portland Trailblazers, like their opponents from the north, have been performing better than their record would indicate. While the Raptors have played .500 ball over the last eight games and fielded the 9th best defense, the Blazers have won five of eight and sport the 3rd best defense (and 10th best offense) over the last two weeks.

The Blazers enter with two extra days of rest and are a surprising 16-14 at home. Portland covers the -5.5 spread.

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Last Week’s Record: 2-1

Season Record: 26-38