PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 29: Head coach Nick Nurse of the Toronto Raptors speaks with Fred VanVleet #23 (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
It’s fair to say that the Toronto Raptors aren’t being given anything more than a puncher’s chance to compete in the Eastern Conference this year, as the power rankings have generally not been kind to them. Given all of the turnover around the team, it’s easy to see why this is.
Kyle Lowry is now a member of the Miami Heat, the team may not have a long-term option at center if Khem Birch regresses, and the rest of the fringe playoff teams in the East made some headline-grabbing acquisitions.