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Toronto Raptors 2015 NBA Season Preview

By Cody Williams

Apr 15, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) sits on the bench prior to the game against the Charlotte Hornets at the Air Canada Centre. The Hornets won 92-87. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 15, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) sits on the bench prior to the game against the Charlotte Hornets at the Air Canada Centre. The Hornets won 92-87. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 11, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Toronto Raptors center Jonas Valanciunas (17) reacts after fouling out of the game during the second half against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 11, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Toronto Raptors center Jonas Valanciunas (17) reacts after fouling out of the game during the second half against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

Most Important Games

The first stretch of the schedule that the Raptors need to be circling as majorly important to their season comes in the middle of November when they go on a Western Conference road trip. In five games from Nov. 15-22, the Raptors will play the Sacramento Kings, Golden State Warriors, Utah Jazz, Los Angeles Lakers, and Los Angeles Clippers. While the Lakers may not be a big test, how this Raptors team fares over that stretch could help inspire a ton of confidence within the team.

Toronto also has an important little run at the turn of the New Year running from Dec. 26 to Jan. 4. They play six games against Eastern Conference opponents over that time, five of which figure into the East postseason picture. At the start of 2016, that just be a big stretch for the Raptors in terms of their momentum this year.

What’s really intriguing is that the Raptors have another stretch towards the end of their season against Western Conference playoff-caliber teams. From March 25 to April 2, Toronto plays the New Orleans Pelicans, Oklahoma City Thunder, their one East opponent in the stretch in the Atlanta Hawks, Memphis Grizzlies, and San Antonio Spurs. That’s a brutal little run and, at the end of the season, this team will need to show up strongly in terms of maintaining or helping postseason seeding.

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