TORONTO, CANADA - NOVEMBER 23: The Toronto Raptors stand for the National Anthem before the game against the Washington Wizards on November 23, 2018 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Ron Turenne/NBAE via Getty Images)
The Toronto Raptors are off to a wonderful start this season. However, they will be put to a severe test in the next 10 games, which feature a pair against Golden State.
We are near as makes no difference to the quarter-pole in the Toronto Raptors 2018-19 season. The team’s record of 16-4 is the NBA’s best in both senses, i.e., most wins and fewest losses. However, the nay-sayers, for lack of anything else to criticize, point to the Raptors strength of schedule status to say our team hasn’t beaten anyone of note.
The Raptors’ rank of 26th isn’t their fault – they don’t make the schedule. And Toronto begins a 10-game tranche today against Miami which will bring the argument to a conclusion, one way or the other. Things are about to get very tough.
Beating Miami at home won’t mean a whole bunch. The nastiness begins when we’re off to Memphis to face the remade and dangerous Grizzlies. They are currently 12-6; last season after 18 games, their record was 7-11, on their way to an embarrassing 22-60 finish. Then we return to Toronto to host the Golden State Warriors, who should have Stephen Curry back from a groin injury. A visit to Cleveland provides temporary respite, after which fun’s over – Top Five squads Denver and Philadelphia come to town. We go to Brooklyn, where the Nets are tough, then home to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Next, the Raptors take to the air for a western trip. The first two games, which take us to 30 played, are at the Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State. Those are the only back to back affairs, so Kawhi Leonard should be dressed for nine of the ten.
I’m sure the strength of schedule numbers will look a lot different after that nasty stretch.
Toronto hasn’t being used mirrors and sleight of hand in constructing its stellar record. The Raptors’ plus_minus of plus_8.9 stands second behind the fillin’-it-up Bucks (who lost at home on Friday night to the woeful Suns when deluxe scorer Jamal Crawford hit a buzzer-beater; any team can beat any other anytime).
But the bar is set very high in the next ten games, half of which are on the road. If the Raptors can emerge with a 6-4 record, that should be sufficient to silence the doubters.