If we learned anything from the five-spot of NBA games on Christmas Day, and there was plenty to take from a marathon slate of hooping, it’s that the Toronto Raptors, even in the midst of a two-game losing streak, are a team of considerable influence.
Yes, the Raptors came out on the dull end of their first opportunity to host a portion of the Dec. 25 festivities; three games in three-and-a-half days will take a toll on an injury-depleted team. But given their litany of health issues – not to mention the off-season departure of two-fifths of the championship starting lineup — it says something about head coach Nick Nurse that the Raptors, ranked fifth in the NBA in defensive efficiency last season, rank fifth in the category this season, too.