Most loyal Raptors Republic readers are well aware of how much I wanted the Raptors to try and get Andrew Wiggins before and after the draft. Even after Cleveland drafted him at number one, I was a proponent of trying to get in on the inevitable Cleveland-Minnesota deal the entire world knew was coming. Most Raptor fans bristled at the suggestion of trading away DeMar DeRozan and Amir Johnson, which would have been the minimum cost for acquiring Wiggins (Minnesota was originally looking for immediate help in exchange for Kevin Love, which is why they preferred the Golden State deal where they would get Klay Thompson), and apparently so did Masai Ujiri.
While the Raptors are likely going to set a franchise record for wins this season, their play since Christmas has raised numerous questions about the future of the current roster and the logic in standing pat last summer. While the team would certainly not be sitting 3rd in the Eastern Conference right now, if they had made the trade, having a player like Wiggins would certainly change the outlook for the team.
Let’s be clear, Wiggins has been better than advertised this season, and this after being the number one pick in what was considered a loaded draft (although one that has been beset by injuries).
Wiggins’ season stats don’t exactly jump out at you, but he increased his numbers across the board each month until he hit a bit of a rookie wall at the end of January (he’s continued to score, but his shooting percentages went down in the last month and a half). He’s a much better three point shooter than many thought he would be, is already arguably a better defender than DeRozan is and has the potential to be among the best in the league on defense.
What may be most impressive, however, is how refined Wiggins’ post game is for a player so young. Players like Jordan, Kobe and LeBron all added their post game after several years in the league, realizing how much more effective they are with it. At just 19 years old, Wiggins has the footwork of a veteran in the post, and it’s one reason he’s been able to score so consistently all season despite the fact his driving game is hindered by his lack of ball handling skills.
Ujiri recently hinted that he wanted to eventually add Wiggins to the Raptors’ roster, but that’s a topic for another article.
While Wiggins is the headliner of Minnesota’s visit to Toronto, the T-Wolves also have some other interesting players on the roster that makes the team’s future as bright as it’s ever been, despite their horrible 14-52 record and despite trading away three players who started much of the season for the T-Wolves without getting all that much in return. The problem is that few of the current players have been even remotely healthy for most of the season. Speaking of which…
THREE THINGS TO WATCH
Who Will Suit Up For The T-Wolves Tonight?
Ricky Rubio, Kevin Martin, Nikola Pekovic and Shabazz Muhammad have missed a total of 144 games this season and Kevin Garnett’s vaunted return only lasted 5 games before injuries took him out. In fact, tonight Muhammad, Anthony Bennett and Robbie Hummel are out for tonight and possibly the rest of the season, while Garnett, Rubio, Pekovic and Gary Neal are all questionable. That’s 3/5 of what would most likely be the starting lineup if everyone was actually healthy.
There are only two players on the entire Minnesota roster that has started more than 29 games for the team this season, Wiggins and Gorgui Dieng, who has only started as many as he has because of Pekovic missing 35 games.
As it is, it’s likely Wiggins, Zach LaVine, Kevin Martin, Dieng and a player they borrow from the Raptors will start tonight. That is unless one of the questionable players become unquestionable.
Which Kyle Lowry Will Show Up?
After playing at a near elite level for the first couple of months of the season, Lowry has since been about as consistent as this season’s Family Guy. He racked up a triple double against Indiana on Monday the day after going 3 for 11 and barely hitting double digits in scoring against Portland.
When Lowry plays well, the Raptors are competitive. When he doesn’t they usually lose.
Since he’s returned from sitting out three games due to general injury, Lowry’s production has actually improved, so it does give hope for the last 15 games of the season.
Is This The Beginning Of A Turnaround?
We all know how poor the Raptors’ record has been in 2015, but their schedule has also been quite tough. Yes, they’ve lost against the Knicks, Milwaukee, Brooklyn, Detroit and Charlotte twice, but 20 of the 34 games they’ve played in 2015 have been against teams above .500 and the team went on three West Coast trips, all against playoff teams.
Of the 15 games left, 11 are against teams currently out of the playoffs, including against sub-300 teams New York, Lakers and Minnesota (twice).
There is still a decent chance the Raptors will get to 50 wins, and winning against a depleted Minnesota will be a good indication on how the rest of the season will go.
BREAKDOWN
Starters
With a T-Wolves roster at full strength, Minnesota’s starters actually compare fairly well against the Raptors’ starters. Of course, since few of Minnesota’s regular starters will even play, they simply don’t have the the same level of talent.
Edge: Raptors
Bench
In Minnesota’s game against Brooklyn on Monday, their entire bench consisted of Chase Budinger, Justin Hamilton and Lorenzo Brown. And if you’ve heard of more than one of those players then congratulations, you’re one up on me.
Edge: Raptors
Coaching
Remember when Flip Saunders was considered one of the better coaches in the league and he was leading the Detroit Pistons to three consecutive Conference Finals? Well, that was a long time ago and he’s done very little since then to add to his legacy. While his team will be lucky to win 15 games this season, Casey’s job is probably more in jeopardy.
Edge: T-Wolves
PREDICTION
Despite the obvious advantage the Raptors have over the struggling and depleted T-Wolves, this is actually a dangerous game for Toronto. After such a resounding win against the surging Pacers, it would be very easy for the Raptors to relax against an opponent they know they should beat and play down to them, as they often do to sub-par opponents.
The Raptors don’t need to try anything new or do anything out of the ordinary, they just need to show up, work hard and play consistent basketball in order to win.
As I said earlier, this game will actually be a good indication on how the rest of the season will go. If they relax and lose, then 50 wins is almost definitely out of reach. If they go out, play hard and beat an inferior opponent, then they could still hit that so-far-unreachable mark.
Score: Raptors 120 – Timberwolves 101
