Toronto Raptors
Toronto Raptors fans have felt good since they won the NBA championship in 2019. The Raptors are a solid team with some foundational pieces that will bring them success for many years to come. However, we all know a Raptors fan who says that their team is a playoff team, regardless of their actual success in the league.
The Raptors are a great team and Nick Nurse can coach his tail off, but they can only go so far.
Scottie Barnes deservingly won Rookie of the Year last season. Fans didn’t know what to think when they drafted Barnes, but they are riding high with Barnes for the future. He will be an All-Star in the future, but his time isn’t now.
Fred VanVleet is a fantastic player and he can score at will and is very impressive on defense. In addition, Pascal Siakam is a former All-Star who is on a mission this year to get back to where he once was. OG Anunoby is solid, and the rest of the team is very good, but they’re missing something, and that’s superstars.
Every NBA team that makes it into the playoffs and sees success, let alone wins a championship, has a superstar. The Raptors had Kawhi Leonard when they won, but they don’t have that anymore. Regardless of how far Nick Nurse and the team can go winning regular season games, there is no chance for them to advance in the playoffs. The Eastern Conference is stacked. It will be challenging to move on if the Raptors can make the playoffs or the play-in.
Until the Toronto Raptors add a superstar to their team, they won’t come close to the success they once had with Leonard on the team. The Raptors will win big games and finish the season with an excellent record, but that’s all.
To all the Raptors fans, you must lower those expectations. Raptors fans always have something to say, but until they win a championship against a healthy team, it’s time to quiet the noise.