The Regular Season has barely gotten out of bed, and the rash of injuries is already piling up.
Last Friday, the Cavaliers were without Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen, and Max Strus. That’s 80% of Cleveland’s starting lineup! On Sunday, the Grizzlies strolled into town without the injured Zach Edey, Ty Jerome, Brandon Clarke, and Scotty Pippen Jr. Memphis was further depleted after suspending Ja Morant for one game due to conduct detrimental to the team.
The Raptors aren’t in the clear either, as Jakob Poeltl missed the last 3 games with recurring back issues. Considering the number of injuries on their opponents, Toronto is relatively healthy. The team’s depth that was highly touted throughout the preseason came through as Jamison Battle’s perfect night beyond the arc (6-for-6) propelled the Raptors to victory and, subsequently, halted a 4-game slide. Toronto made it 2 wins in a row behind Brandon Ingram’s efficient 26-point outing against Memphis. It was already his 3rd game shooting 62% or better from the field.
With each of the first 10 games against teams that made the playoffs last year or project to make the playoffs this year (hello, San Antonio), the Raptors must take advantage of depleted teams in order to survive a difficult portion of the schedule. Coming up this week are a couple of games against teams dealing with significant injuries. Can Toronto continue capitalizing?
November 4 vs Milwaukee Bucks
Will this be the last time Toronto watches Giannis Antetokounmpo in a Bucks uniform?
I should probably stop making that joke. Not only is Giannis (stubbornly?) loyal to the city, but Milwaukee has been playing really well.
Doc Rivers has his team off to a solid start with victories over New York and Golden State. Milwaukee has the 4th-best offensive rating, thanks in part to 7 different Bucks averaging double-figure scoring. Efficiency is the name of the game in Milwaukee, with the team ranking 1st in FG% at the rim and 2nd in FG% from three.
Milwaukee should be tired as they’re playing the second game of a back-to-back. Or maybe they’ll be energized since last night’s game ended in a dramatic Giannis buzzer-beater.
Fun fact that may only interest me
Antetokounmpo started his career losing 13(!!) of his first 14 games against Toronto. You can certainly see why conspiracies would start whenever Giannis would mysteriously miss a game against the Raptors.
He’s mostly atoned for it, winning 6 of the last 7 meetings in which he’s played.
Moving forward, they could all be wins for Giannis if he just joins Toron……okay I’ll stop now.
Prediction
When these teams met two Fridays ago, the Bucks carved up the Raptors’ defense in the 4th quarter, scoring 36 points and escaping with a 122-116 victory. Antetokounmpo was unstoppable, amassing 31 points, 20(!) rebounds, and 7 assists. Cole Anthony was a monster off the bench. The former Magic dropped 23 points, almost single-handedly outscoring Toronto’s bench (25 points).
If Poeltl misses his 4th game in a row, the Raptors will be hard-pressed to stop Giannis. As of this writing, Jak has been upgraded to questionable. If he can play, he may not be at 100%. Regardless, Toronto may have an answer (see Es’ typical great work below). Raptors avenge the early-season loss and defeat the visiting Bucks, but do not cover the -2.5 spread.
November 7 @ Atlanta Hawks
The Round Robin portion of the NBA Cup consists of 2 home games and 2 road games. As luck would have it, Toronto will avoid a former All-Star starter in each of its NBA Cup road games. Trae Young sustained a sprained MCL earlier this week and will miss at least 4 weeks. Ice Trae’s absence is another blow to Atlanta’s slow start. The Hawks were touted as a team to watch before the season started, thanks in large part to the acquisition of Kristaps Porzingis, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Luke Kennard, as well as the return of Jalen Johnson.
However, things have not gone according to plan in the A. In addition to Trae’s injury, Atlanta’s 3-4 start includes losses to a depleted Cavs roster, the surprising Bulls, and a season-opening drubbing at the hands of these Raptors. It’s still early, but the Hawks have the 5th-worst offense in the league. For context, Atlanta has been better than average for each of the last 5 seasons, including the 2021-22 season, where they finished 2nd. On the defensive end, the departure of Clint Capela is being exposed as opponents are grabbing more offensive rebounds than against any other team.
Fun fact that may only interest me
The Hawks may have the most multicultural team in the NBA. Here’s where each of the players was born:
Australia: Dyson Daniels
Belgium: Nikola Djurisic
Canada: Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Caleb Houstan
Czech Republic: Vit Krejci
Latvia: Kristaps Porzingis
Mali: N’Faly Dante
Senegal: Mouhamed Gueye, Eli Ndiaye
Spain: Zaccharie Risacher
USA: Jalen Johnson, Luke Kennard, Asa Newell, Onyeka Okongwu, Jacob Toppin, Trae Young
Prediction
It goes without saying that this is a big game for both teams. For Toronto, the chance to steal another NBA Cup win against an opponent missing its best player, getting a second win in Atlanta, AND kicking off a 5-game road trip that could turn around a slow start is quite the motivation. Meanwhile, Atlanta will also be looking for its second NBA Cup win while trying to avenge the embarrassing season-opening loss. Toronto handled Atlanta easily a few weeks ago, and the Hawks are now without Trae. The Raptors win in Atlanta again, covering the +1.5 spread.
November 8 @ Philadelphia 76ers
This is the kind of start that should worry Eastern Conference teams. Paul George and Jared McCain have yet to play this season. Joel Embiid is currently in the Bermuda Triangle of NBA despair: unplayable on most nights, less than 100% when he’s on the court, and too expensive to trade.
Yet, Philadelphia sits atop the East standings!
Tyrese Maxey has been the best player in the league not born in Greece or Canada. Mad Maxey averaged a career-high 26.3 points, 6.1 assists, and 3.3 rebounds last season. He’s managed to increase those figures to 33.7 points, 9.0 assists, and 4.8 rebounds! The Sixers may be without McCain, last year’s best rookie before getting injured, but his absence has not been felt because Philadelphia also has this year’s best rookie, so far, in VJ Edgecombe. The 3rd overall pick ranks 1st among all rookies in points, assists, and steals. Filling out the Sixers’ Big 3 (ugh, sorry for using that term) is none other than…..Kelly Oubre!?!?! The 10-year veteran is having a renaissance season so far. He’s averaging a career-high 63.5% eFG%, draining 62% inside the arc and 42% from three. This 3-headed monster collectively makes 9.5 threes per game on 43% shooting. Nick Nurse is fueling all of this by playing each of them A LOT. Maxey (42.5), Edgecombe (39.0), and Oubre (38.0) are 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in the NBA in minutes played.
Not to be outdone, the Sixers’ frontcourt is holding its own despite Embiid’s shortcomings. Andre Drummond leads the league in rebounds per 100 possessions. Adem Bona ranks 4th in blocks per game.
I truly hate that their tanking strategy paid off!
Fun fact that may only interest me
In each of the last 9 seasons, the league leader in minutes per game has averaged between 36.9 (LeBron James, 2017-18) and 37.9 (Pascal Siakam, 2021-22).
So far this season, each of the top 3 in minutes played is averaging 38 or more.
Tyrese Maxey (42.5)
VJ Edgecombe (39.0)
Kelly Oubre (38.0)
Prediction
The Sixers will have 2 days of rest before heading home and awaiting Toronto. The Raptors will be flying in late from Atlanta and playing the back-end of a back-to-back. Maxey, Edgecombe, Oubre, and Quentin Grimes are going to be a handful for Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, and Jamal Shead. You already know Nick Nurse will have a little extra motivation to beat his former team. The Sixers continue their hot start to the season, defeating the Raptors and covering the -7.5 spread.
Last week: 3-1
Season record: 5-2