𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

The Eastern Conference standings seem destined to give us vertigo this year.

Entering Wednesday’s play, just one and a half games separated the Toronto Raptors (16-11), in third place, and the Miami Heat (14-12), in ninth. That is the difference between having home-court advantage in the first round and having to win twice in the Play-In Tournament to earn the right to play the conference’s top seed. While it seems likely one or two teams will emerge from the pack, it is not as if there is a wild difference in talent or strength of schedule the rest of the way.

Of the seven teams in that group, the Raptors have the toughest remaining schedule by opponent winning percentage alone, with their opponents having a combined .504 winning percentage. The Raptors also have both of their major Western Conference road trips in the second half of the season.

With the schedule about to turn dramatically and trade season officially here, The Athletic senior writer Eric Koreen is here to answer your questions as the Raptors reach the abbreviated holiday break.