Title: Cavs, Wiz, Raptors, Bulls, Hawks, Pistons: Hot seats, changes to come and what’s next
Date: January 13, 2021
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I participated in a bottom-of-the-East roundtable with some other writers, a place a Raptors writer hasn’t belonged in some time.
One of these teams is not like the others.
At the 10-game mark of the NBA season, the bottom of the Eastern Conference has a franchise that hasn’t sunk this low in quite some time. The Toronto Raptors (2-8) have joined the likes of the Chicago Bulls (4-7), Washington Wizards (3-8), Atlanta Hawks (5-5), Detroit Pistons (2-8) and Cleveland Cavaliers (5-7) as teams resting near the East’s floor to start the year.
For only one of these organizations, the Pistons, a bottom-five spot in the East was to be expected. The organization never once mentioned the playoffs leading up to the season, and it was clear Detroit was going through a transition phase as it embraced a youth movement for the first time in a long time. At a point, the Bulls were hoping a new coach and leadership would yield better results. The Wizards don’t trade for Russell Westbrook unless they want to contend for the playoffs. The Hawks, after an active offseason, were ready to be taken seriously but have underachieved thus far. The Cavaliers want to improve from last year too. And the Raptors’ start is just truly baffling.
Blake Murphy Sports Writing 