Toronto Raptors: Team’s biggest weapon against each contender

With the 2019 NBA Playoffs slowly coming our way, the Toronto Raptors could find themselves being legitimate contenders for once.

After multiple disappointing seasons, the Toronto Raptors finally decided to change things up. Although the roster does not look completely different, the separation from both DeMar DeRozan and head coach Dwane Casey was enough to signal a new era in Toronto.

It’s fair to say this experiment has worked out perfectly … so far. In this first season of new Toronto basketball, the Raptors find themselves with the second-best record in the NBA, having won 56 games with three left to play.

As a result, the logical thing to do is think ahead, on to the 2019 NBA Playoffs. The Raptors shouldn’t face that much of a challenge in the first round against either near-.500 team, as the borderline playoff spots appear to be weak in the Eastern Conference.

So who exactly are Toronto’s biggest rivals entering playoff contention? From the East, the 1-seeded Milwaukee Bucks have certainly made some noise during the regular season, rendering them dangerous in a potential playoff matchup. The Philadelphia 76ers have the best starting five in the conference and seem to have picked up the pace recently.

The Boston Celtics are arguably the most stacked team in the NBA, and even though they have underachieved, they’re definitely a team to be afraid of. Last but not least, out West, a team called the Golden State Warriors is the obvious pick to win it all and a nightmare matchup for every coach.

But Toronto is a well-oiled machine, set to be a serious challenge for the aforementioned rivals. Here is the biggest weapon in the Raptors’ arsenal against each one of these contenders.