Raptors and Hawks Set to Battle in Season Opener

The Toronto Raptors and Atlanta Hawks, both of whom missed the NBA playoffs last season, are gearing up for their season opener on October 25, 2023, in Atlanta. With aspirations for a strong playoff run, both teams are looking to establish themselves early in the new season.

Toronto forward Scottie Barnes expressed the team’s ambitions, stating, “I think our expectations for our team is to definitely make the playoffs and win some games in the playoffs. That’s the standard. That’s the bottom line, with how talented we are and what we should be able to achieve for this team.” The Raptors have not qualified for the playoffs in the last three years, while the Hawks have participated in the play-in tournament for the past four seasons but have struggled to advance.

Barnes had a standout performance last season, being the only player in the league to achieve over 500 rebounds, 300 assists, 90 steals, and 60 blocks. He averaged 19.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 5.8 assists. The Raptors also welcome back leading scorer RJ Barrett, who posted career highs of 21.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 5.4 assists, along with Jakob Poeltl, who achieved career bests of 14.5 points and 9.6 rebounds.

To enhance their offense, which ranked 23rd in scoring last season, the Raptors added Brandon Ingram, who averaged 23.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.2 assists during his six seasons with the New Orleans Pelicans. Immanuel Quickley returns after a challenging season in which he averaged 17.1 points and 5.8 assists but missed a significant number of games due to injury. Poeltl noted the team’s chemistry, saying, “What’s impressed me is how much everybody has bought into trying to figure out where everybody else likes to play or wants the ball.”

On the other side, the Hawks will rely heavily on point guard Trae Young, who led the league last season with 880 total assists and an average of 11.6 assists per game. Young, a four-time All-Star, is among an elite group of players who have averaged at least 24 points and 11 assists.

Another key player for Atlanta is Dyson Daniels, who was recognized as the NBA’s Most Improved Player and was a runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year. Daniels averaged 14.1 points and led the league with 3.0 steals last season. He recently signed a four-year contract extension valued at $100 million.

The Hawks are also excited to have a fully recovered Jalen Johnson, who averaged 18.9 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 5.0 assists last season despite being limited to 36 games due to a torn left labrum. Johnson expressed his enthusiasm, saying, “It’s been a long time since January, so I’m excited to get out on the court.”

One of Atlanta’s significant offseason acquisitions is Kristaps Porzingis, who arrived from Boston in a three-team trade. Porzingis averaged 19.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 42 games last season, adding depth to the Hawks’ roster.

As both teams prepare for their opening match, the stakes are high. The Raptors and Hawks are eager to prove their worth and set the tone for what they hope will be successful seasons ahead.