Road to the Playoffs: Raptors’ schedule might assist them sneak previous 76ers

It’s a disgrace when an artist’s first album finally ends up being their greatest. Weezer’s Blue Album, The Strokes’ Is This It and Nas’s Illmatic, whereas all extraordinary, have been additionally adopted by cautionary tales of getting too snug and dropping one’s preliminary starvation and essence after experiencing early success.  

What’s often called promoting out within the music trade can simply be transferred to dropping buy-in when utilized to basketball. 

As Raptors head coach Darko Rajaković put it after his group’s loss to the Kings: “When you don’t approach the game from the start with the level of intensity and attention to detail that you need to have, this is the outcome.” 

Of course, one of many NBA’s worst three-point taking pictures groups lacking their most proficient shooter, Immanuel Quickley, has additionally been an element. But the six-foot-two guard’s absence had little to do with the Raptors being minus-16 on the glass and minus-19 in second-chance factors towards Sacramento on Wednesday.

Now, Toronto has fallen to seventh within the East, as its file is tied with the division-rival Philadelphia 76ers, who maintain the tiebreaker and consequently jumped the Raptors for the ultimate correct playoff spot.

There are different groups that might think about on the periphery, however the race for sixth seems poised for a photograph end between the Raptors and 76ers. Every slight benefit that may be mined down the stretch will matter, and the 2 squads’ energy of schedule might be below the microscope as they intention to keep away from the volatility of a one- or two-game play-in situation.

Let’s look at the outlook for Toronto and Philadelphia over the season’s last six video games as they, in RJ Barrett’s phrases: “play like our lives depend on it.” 

While energy of schedule usually shakes out to a comparatively truthful stability over the course of a complete season, it may be a harsher issue over a smaller pattern, significantly when each recreation counts in a decent playoff race. Toronto has the higher hand right here.

Philadelphia is about to run a veritable gauntlet that features video games towards the Minnesota Timberwolves, Detroit Pistons, San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets over its subsequent 4 contests. Its last six opponents have a mixed .558 successful share, giving the 76ers the fourth-most tough energy of schedule remaining. They even have two back-to-backs left.

The Raptors are a blended bag. Pulling off wins towards Eastern Conference giants within the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks might be a tall activity — Toronto’s a mixed 0-6 towards each this season. However, the Raptors even have two video games left towards the Miami Heat, who they’ve dominated and who additionally occur to be within the midst of a 2-8 stretch.

Ultimately, Toronto’s energy of schedule is way friendlier than Philly’s resulting from Friday’s recreation towards the lowly Memphis Grizzlies (Sportsnet, Sportsnet+, 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT) and its season finale towards the even-lowlier Brooklyn Nets. The Raptors’ last six adversaries win at a mixed .486 clip, good for nineteenth leaguewide.

Philadelphia does have the sting in a few different areas, although. The Raptors and 76ers have break up their season sequence, rendering the primary tiebreaker, head-to-head file, moot. But the subsequent tiebreaker is divisional file, the place Philly’s 9-7 might be insurmountable for the Raptors, who’re 4-10 towards Atlantic division foes.

This primarily offers the 76ers a further recreation within the standings, because the Raptors must safe a greater file outright to cross them. Canadian sports activities followers are nicely conscious of the significance a tiebreaker can maintain after the Toronto Blue Jays’ 2025 American League East title hinged on holding the tiebreaker over the New York Yankees.

And whereas Joel Embiid’s well being is a perpetual query mark, the 76ers are at full energy in any other case. Paul George has returned after lacking a lot of the season between an low season knee process and 25-game banned-substance suspension — and he is been lighting it up. After struggling to begin the season, the 35-year-old former MVP finalist is averaging 28 factors and 7 rebounds per contest over 4 video games since returning. George dropped 39 on 15-of-22 taking pictures in his most up-to-date recreation on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the Raptors try to navigate an harm to their place to begin guard. Immanuel Quickley has missed six straight video games with plantar fasciitis and has been seen sporting a strolling boot. Before Toronto’s recreation towards the New Orleans Pelicans on March 27, Rajaković stated that the one means for the harm to completely heal can be for Quickley to be off his toes for a number of weeks, a luxurious the group would not have.

However, the sharpshooting guard was taking part in by means of the ache previous to sitting and Rajaković stated that Quickley is “going to be available to play.” Just not but, as he’s listed as out towards the Grizzlies on the NBA’s harm report.

Considering that Toronto ranks twenty sixth in three-point makes, twenty fifth in makes an attempt and twenty third in share, it could’t afford to be with out its greatest three-point shooter for lengthy. And make no mistake, Quickley could also be tied for third in share on the Raptors, however he’s their most essential shooter.

Toronto has a dearth of pull-up three-point taking pictures, rating final within the league in makes an attempt by a large margin. Quickley is the one participant on the group that takes and makes this harder shot kind at a excessive quantity. He’s taking pictures 33.7 per cent throughout his time as a Raptor — above league common — whereas accounting for practically 40 per cent of the group’s makes an attempt on a per-game foundation. Without Quickley, the Raptors’ pull-up three-point taking pictures is non-existent. They’re averaging 3.2 per recreation since he is gone down, lower than 29 particular person gamers throughout the league.

The Raptors and 76ers are completely intertwined. From Scottie Barnes and Tyrese Maxey’s comical relationship, to ex-Raptor greats Kyle Lowry and Nick Nurse main the best way in Philly, to the notorious Kawhi shot in the course of the groups’ second-round sequence in 2019 — there isn’t any scarcity of compelling connections on this rivalry.

Not all play-in spots are created equal

The high 10 spots could also be determined in every convention, however the battle for seeding is essential, significantly within the packed play-in image. The center of the East stays tight with Nos. 6 by means of 10 nonetheless solely separated by 2.5 video games.

The Raptors and the feel-good Charlotte Hornets at present occupy Nos. 7 and eight within the standings, which means they might play for a playoff spot, and the loser would play the winner of the 9-10 recreation for the eighth and last true post-season berth.

That signifies that the Orlando Magic — who have been in fifth simply two weeks in the past — and the Miami Heat can be preventing it out below the warmth of the Florida solar in a one-and-done situation if the season ended immediately.

This highlights the significance of nabbing one of many high two play-in spots. Having solely two video games to punch your ticket continues to be dangerous, however each further likelihood is significant.

The West is extra simple. With the Phoenix Suns now 4.5 video games again of the sixth seed, their chase for a straight-up playoff berth is successfully over.

The Suns and Golden State Warriors have important separation on the high and backside of the West’s play-in image, which means the Los Angeles Clippers catching the Portland Trail Blazers to earn the coveted eighth spot is probably the most possible shift right here.

The Clippers’ erratic season makes them powerful to learn, however there may be purpose to consider they’ve what it takes for a push. They began 13-23 earlier than rattling off a 10-4 run within the lead as much as the commerce deadline. Then, Lawrence Frank and co. bought anyway, dealing James Harden and Ivica Zubac seemingly with a watch for the longer term.

Despite overhauling the roster, the Clippers have maintained a gradual tempo. They’re 16-11 for the reason that deadline as acquisitions Darius Garland and Bennedict Mathurin have discovered a brand new gear.

Not to say that Kawhi Leonard is taking part in his greatest basketball for the reason that Raptors’ championship season. If the Clippers have aspirations of happening a major run, he’ll want to remain wholesome and cleared the path.