NBA Schedule Announced (1st Game Oct 22 @ Atlanta Hawks, Home Opener Oct 24 vs Bucks)

[Tofubeque]

Matt Moore on Realgm’s podcast has the Raptors winning 32 games, I wonder what month they’ll be shooting past that

[tsherkin]

Matt Moore on Realgm’s podcast has the Raptors winning 32 games, I wonder what month they’ll be shooting past that

That seems aggressively low. That's 2 more wins than we had this season. Even with BI only playing 50 games, and then similar GP from RJ and Yak, we should surpass that. It's not like the East is filled with titans at the moment.

Boston and Indy will be worse. Atlanta should be a little better. Brooklyn isn't very good. Charlotte will still suck, Chicago will be mid at best. Cleveland will still be good. Detroit should be around our level, maybe a little better depending. Miami isn't anything special. Milwaukee is going to decline. New York will be about the same. Orlando should be better. Philly is a little bit of a wild card depending on Embiid, but I'm not banking on major health from him. And Washington will still suck.

So we're right there, and it doesn't seem like we're going to be that bad.

[Spates]

I'm fascinated by this team. Although there's wavering uncertainty, I'm somehow optimistic. I think there's enough talent to merit being at least a .500 team in a weak Eastern Conference.

I'm sort of surprised at the RJ rumors because I think he might be the glue to an otherwise janky roster. Lineups with Scottie, Ingram, and IQ will value his off-ball juice as a cutter and bench heavy lineups will need his rim pressure both on and off ball.

I also have faith in Gradey because it'll be non-sensical to leave him on an island. Without any stout on-ball defenders starting, it'll be defense be committee. The team requires progressive reads and switching to be good on that end. In that regard, Gradey will be somewhat insulated.

When it comes to the top 3 guys it's less about them getting better than it's about the adjustments they make to their game. More 3's from IQ and BI. More force from Scottie.

[Jerry Lucas]

With how weak the East is this season combined with the lowkey impressive depth on this team (for the standards of this year's East), it should be almost impossible for this team to not make the playoffs. I felt similarly heading into 2021-22 for what that's worth.

[SFour]

Matt Moore on Realgm’s podcast has the Raptors winning 32 games, I wonder what month they’ll be shooting past that

I don't understand this high level of skepticism for the Raptors in the regular season, it would make more sense for the playoffs but not the regular season....they have the depth to be successful.

[Pointgod]

Strength of Schedule

https://powerrankingsguru.com/nba/strength-of-schedule.php

We have an easy schedule overall so there should be no excuses if this team doesn’t meet the lofty expectations of some posters.

[mihaic]

I could see an 0-10 start and that would get this site all worked up.

things casuals say

Surely you meant causals.

[mihaic]

That's tough. ATL should be one of the top teams in the east and then it gets really tough except for the garbage Bucks. The overreactions the 1st few weeks online are gonna be fun lol

Yeah mid Nov there will he LOTS of posts on how we are in a position to tank for a real #1 Star in a stacked draft.

Then we will hear all year when we win games how they wasted the opportunity.

Del abbot will probably complain even about preseason wins

[TheAlchemist23]

Ratings gonna be nuts going from cable (TNT) to broadcast (NBC)

That being said, Raps over the last decade or so got a great stretch of season openers at home and a healthy amount of home games to start the season, and its now over...they don't like us anymore

[James_Raptors]

I remain steadfast with my 50-32 season as the best case scenario.

[LoveMyRaps]

Crazy that we still gotta wait two more months.....

[Kingsway_fan]

Hoping for a breakout year from IQ...

[mihaic]

I remain steadfast with my 50-32 season as the best case scenario.

That's a very tall order. Probably enough for the 3rd or 4th place in the standings. I expect 38-43 play in ( 10th...7th)