Toronto Raptors: 3 thoughts on the 2018-19 NBA schedule

The Toronto Raptors will be closely watched as one of the chief contenders in the Eastern Conference during the 2018-19 season.

The NBA recently unveiled its schedule for the 2018-19 season. Lo and behold, the Toronto Raptors will take the court for 82 games this year.

There are plenty of notable takeaways involving the Raptors’ schedule. Important games stand out immediately, although some won’t become clear until the pecking order of the league shakes out.

One thing fans can take note of is the frequency with which the Raptors appear on national television this season — it’s a lot. The schedule-makers must have high hopes for Toronto’s team.

They can also train their eye on whether or not the Raptors have a lot of difficult games based on little rest, or two games in three nights and three games in four nights. The league made a concerted effort to limit those games for each team.

This year, the Raptors will have 12 back-to-back contests and 11 instances of playing three games in four nights. Both of those numbers are down from last year.

Toronto will open its season on Oct. 17 in Canada against none other than the Cleveland Cavaliers, the adversaries who crumbled this offseason after sweeping the Raptors out of the playoffs.

Here are three thoughts on Toronto’s 2018-19 schedule.