Taking a look back, last season, the Toronto Raptors went 10-5 in the month of January, securing a 7-2 mark against Eastern Conference teams, a key to their first seed in the playoffs.
Coincidentally, the month of January was also the highest scoring for the teams’ leading scorer DeMar DeRozan (25.3). The two-guard was relied upon further with the loss of Kyle Lowry in three separate games. Jumping back to the present day, DeRozan is gone via an offseason trade for Kawhi Leonard and Lowry is once again hurt entering the month of January, with a thigh and back ailment to blame.