We’re 50 games into the Raptors’ season and it’s still unclear what exactly this team is — or rather, what they’re capable of. Last week’s 10-point loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder (an organization whose strategy is to actively lose) had us slotting top-five draft prospects into the Raptors’ lineup for next year. Two games and a +55 point-differential later and it seems like a postseason berth is within reach.
The last couple games were a setback for the hardcore lottery enthusiasts, yet it’s hard not to simply view 2020-21 as a lost season. Still, watching a buzzer-beating, game-winning shot attempt by the Raptors actually go in was one of the most cathartic moments of a season that has been defined by deflating endings and tough breaks.