NBA Power Rankings Week 15: The Denver Nuggets excel in March

Mar 30, 2021; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. (1) reacts with center Nikola Jokic (15) and guard Facundo Campazzo (7) during a timeout in the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /

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NBA, Denver Nuggets (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images) /

19-30. Previous: 24th. Toronto Raptors. 26. team. 81.

Last Week: Lost to Portland Trail Blazers 122-117, Lost to Detroit Pistons 118-104, Lost to Oklahoma City Thunder 113-103, Beat Golden State Warriors 130-77

This Week: 4/5 vs. Washington Wizards, 4/6 vs. Los Angeles Lakers, 4/8 vs. Chicago Bulls, 4/1 at Cleveland Cavaliers

The Toronto Raptors remain something of a mystery. They have gotten swept by the Detroit Pistons this season, something no team should be able to say giving the general tank nature of the Pistons. However, just as soon as fans are ready to completely write the Raptors off they come out and lay the biggest loss on the Golden State Warriors in decades.

In the month of March, the Raptors’ statistics are misleading in terms of their overall performance. Toronto was 14th in offensive rating and 25th in defensive rating. For a team that was an elite defense just a season ago the drop on that side of the ball is the biggest reason for the overall drop-off.

Offensively, they are still plugging along. In March seven Toronto Raptors averaged double figures in scoring. One of them was Norman Powell, the leading scorer who is now no longer on the team. Gary Trent Jr. is averaging double digits in his stead (16.8 points per game). Trent and OG Anunoby are each shooting over 40 percent (43.2 and 42.9 respectively) on at least seven attempts per game. There are the workings of a solid offensive unit. The output against the Warriors shows glimmers of the defense.

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