Raptors Cage

Raptors Cage Team Predicts the Raptors 2020-’21 Season

Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on pinterest
Share on google
Share on email

It’s been exactly 100 days since the Raptors were knocked off by the Boston Celtics in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals and, after an accelerated offseason like no other, the Raptors 2020-21 campaign kicks off against the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night. With no Serge Ibaka and Marc Gasol, a shiny, new first-round pick and a brand new home in Tampa Bay, things will look a lot different for the 2019 champs this season. Our team got together and made predictions on the upcoming year for the Raps:

Neeraj Varma

Projected finish in Eastern Conference: 4th

A lot of people have been referring to this as a “bridge year” for the Raptors, and while I think it’s clear that the team has a ceiling and won’t be contending for a championship, any team with Kyle Lowry on it will win more games than it loses. The core is young, and the most intriguing thing to look out for this season will be the continual development of Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby, and Terence Davis. The centre position is obviously a question mark heading into the season, but regardless of who fills the bulk of the minutes there, Toronto’s defense should remain elite under Nick Nurse’s creativity. At fourth in the east, I have the Raptors finishing behind the Bucks, Celtics, and Nets. My hottest take – which may only be considered lukewarm after his impressive preseason – is that Malachi Flynn will earn himself a spot on one of the 2020-2021 All-Rookie teams.

Cameron Elliot

Projected finish in Eastern Conference: 4th

Although the Raptors may be out of the running for Antetokounmpo, Masai Ujiri has now has activated plans 2-10. This season will be a development one for the Team as they try and battle the terrain in Tampa. But look to next offseason as a potential momentous point in Raptors history. My biggest prediction? OG Anunoby takes home the MIP award.

Drew Clutchey

Projected finish in Eastern Conference: 4th

The Raps will have another strong regular season. The young core will see continued improvement and Lowry will continue to hold down the fort. I’m predicting them to go 57-25 and have a second-round exit in the playoffs.

Jared Goodman

Projected finish in Eastern Conference: 3rd

Death, taxes and the Raptors finishing over their projected over/under total. No matter who is on the court for the team, the Lowry-era Raptors always exceed regular season expectations with eight straight years of finishing above Vegas’ over/under projection (not including last year’s shortened season). Though the Ibaka and Gasol losses hurt, the team’s nucleus is still in-tact and thus should be able to beat up on inferior squads. The Raptors may not win it all again, but there aren’t many deeper teams in the league built for regular season success.

Kristoffer Pedlar

Projected finish in Eastern Conference: 4th

OG will take the next step in his development and become a key contributor. Bembry will become more popular with Raptors Twitter than Aaron Baynes. Pascal Siakam will have a huge season and prove doubters wrong. Malachi Flynn will emerge as a legit star. Patrick McCaw will not play nearly as much this season and his role will eventually be taken over by Paul Watson Jr. The Raptors will fight hard but ultimately fall to the Bucks in the second round.

Jordan Moore

Projected finish in Eastern Conference: 2nd

The Toronto Raptors finished 2nd in the east in 2019-20 and went 53-19 in 72 games last season while having 229 games lost to injured players. Losing Gasol and Ibaka will hurt, but they still have a great core. Siakam, Anunoby, and Vanvleet have improved every season to this point and I expect that to continue. Lowry looked like his All-star self just 3 months ago in Orlando. The Celtics, Nets, and Sixers have many question marks heading into the season. Injuries for the Celtics, and new roster composition for the Nets and Sixers will give them challenges in the regular season. This Raptor team will win a lot of regular season games on defensive ability alone – with what might be the best defence in the league. Come playoff time they will be hard-pressed to make a run if they can’t figure out their half-court offence.

Fernando Garcia

Projected finish in Eastern Conference: Optimistically 5th, but realistically 6-8

I think the Raptors are in prime position to have a season of struggles. I don’t believe that Pascal is ready to take on the load of being the primary option. He is at best a 2nd or 3rd option. We are going to struggle to score despite having some decent bench pieces. I hope I am wrong, however I think this will be a rebuilding season. My hot take is to trade Lowry, and Powell. Try and find a serviceable 2nd star in free agency, and get some picks. Unless Lowry is willing to stay on a much friendly contract in the future we need to cut him loose now. Powell for sure needs to be let go, lots of players like him for much cheaper.

Jaden Pelayo

Projected finish in Eatern Conference: 2nd/3rd, probably 3rd but I can’t make up my mind

Great regular season as always, Siakam is an All-Star, Lowry is an All-Star as well, but there’s a slight, noticeable regression in Lowry’s game. I think Freddy and OG have a chance to be an All-Star but doesn’t have good enough numbers, and we sadly lose in the second round of the playoffs.

Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on pinterest
Share on google
Share on email

1 thought on “Raptors Cage Team Predicts the Raptors 2020-’21 Season”

Leave a Comment