The Toronto Raptors have been one of the biggest surprises in the Eastern Conference this season. They are competing near the top of the Eastern Conference, but they have hit a bit of a skid recently.
The Eastern Conference has been full of surprises in the 2025-26 season, as the preseason favorites Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks are having drastically different campaigns. The Knicks are meeting expectations as the second seed, but the Cavaliers are way down in the eighth seed after 24 games.
Amid the Cavaliers’ struggles, the Toronto Raptors have capitalized and are in the third seed. They could be the East’s most surprising team, but the Detroit Pistons are in first place with an 18-5 record. Despite the spotlight being on the Pistons, the Raptors also deserve credit for what they have achieved this season under head coach Darko Rajakovic.
Unfortunately, the past week has been rough for the Raptors, as they played five games in seven days. They were clearly struggling on Friday, losing their second game in a row, this time to the Charlotte Hornets. The Raptors were coming off a draining night against the Los Angeles Lakers, during which they ended LeBron James‘ legendary 10-point streak.
The Raptors just went through a rough patch in the schedule
Over the past five games, the Raptors have lost four times and won only once. It has been a rough stretch for the Raptors, considering they were on a superb spell in November that led to them being called potential contenders. Unfortunately, the schedule has caught up to them with a rough five-game stretch over the past week.
What moves do the Toronto Raptors need to make to become a serious playoff threat?
This included losses to the New York Knicks, the Lakers, and two losses to the Hornets. It looks like the Hornets have had the Raptors’ number, with two big wins in the past week.
This could be a massive issue for the Raptors, but they have some credit in the bank with the record they accrued in the first two months of the season. The schedule is not getting any easier, but the Raptors do have some key rest days in between some of the biggest games of the season.
Rajakovic believes the recent tough stretch was mostly due to the schedule, so he will want to bounce back.
“Five games in seven nights. Physically, we were worn down. I’m really proud of our guys tonight.
“We tried. But when you’re trying, and you’re missing layups and wide-open shots, it’s hard to keep it up. We didn’t quit. We continued fighting, but we didn’t have enough in the tank,” Rajakovic said to the media after losing to the Hornets for the second time.
The Raptors can still surprise the rest of the league this season
A rough patch in the past week should not discourage the Raptors and their fans. They have the potential to surprise people, thanks to their talented roster. Brandon Ingram is in a career resurgence this season, while Scottie Barnes continues to improve into an All-Star who is both a reliable scorer and an elite defender.
Are the Toronto Raptors the biggest dark horse in the East?
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With Rajakovic setting the Raptors up for success, people can be optimistic about their chances of pulling off upsets. Most observant NBA fans would know the Knicks are likely the biggest threat in the Eastern Conference, especially when they are healthy.
Ingram and Barnes are playing extremely well, but the Raptors’ roster deserves recognition as well. They are realizing their potential to be a dangerous team in the Playoffs. With versatile defense and solid offense, this Raptors team will be a tough matchup for any other squad.
Rajakovic and the Raptors are in a rough patch to start December, but they should not be underestimated. This Raptors roster is dangerous, and every other NBA team knows that when they play against Rajakovic’s plucky team.
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