NBA: 5 East teams that will make a playoff run down the stretch
By Zach Wolpin
Toronto Raptors
Ever since their 2019 NBA Championship, the Toronto Raptors have been one of the stronger teams in the East. The Raptors sit in the seventh spot coming out of the All-Star break, with the 7th easiest remaining schedule in the NBA.
The Raptors’ two biggest stars Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet will be a huge factor in the team’s success in the weeks to come. Both players are averaging at least 21 points per game with 38 minutes or more played a game. These two are a pivotal part of the franchise and Toronto is looking for a way to get back to the NBA Finals.
Siakam and the Raptors are in great shape to earn a higher spot in the standings come playoff time. They are only half a game back from not having to be in the play-in tournament and only five games back of the first-place Miami Heat.