It is easy to accuse the Raptors of tanking the end of the 2020-21 season. When a team decides to officially rest two key players (Kyle Lowry and Pascal Siakam), while two more are given the night off out of — perhaps — an excess of caution (OG Anunoby and Gary Trent Jr.), it does suggest a certain desire for a downward trajectory. The point has been made that the Raptors are too talented to truly tank — but they’re also 22-34 with 16 games left. There’s not a ton left to play for here except lottery odds.
It’s worth mentioning too that this season has gotten downright cruel in terms of injuries.