Is anyone interested in a Raptors-related conspiracy theory?
When the schedule was released, every team was assigned 80 of their 82 games. The remaining two games would be decided by the In-Season Tournament. More specifically, how a team performed in the round-robin would determine who they faced for those remaining two games.
Every team controls its own destiny......and easing the schedule!
After losing two games, the Toronto Raptors were eliminated from advancing to the quarterfinals/knockout round of the In-Season Tournament. So, instead of facing 2 (or 3) of the hottest teams in the NBA, Toronto will (hypothetically) face easier competition.