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Between the two main beat writers for the Toronto Raptors, you either get unbridled optimism or doom and gloom. Usually reality – and hopefully this article – falls somewhere in between.

With the recent trade that saw Toronto’s Jermaine O’Neal, Jamario Moon, and a lottery-protected draft pick sent to Miami for the Heat’s Shawn Marion, Marcus Banks, and cash considerations, the Raptors have a new look and new pieces that give them a real shot at making the playoffs this year – even if it’s a half-court buzzer beater.

Adding Shawn Marion does a number of things for the Raptors. He is a shut down perimeter defender in a conference and league filled with scoring small forwards. Marion also adds a slasher, rebounder, and shot blocker who is comfortable setting up on the three point line. With a potential starting line up including Jose Calderon, Anthony Parker, Shawn Marion and Andrea Bargnani; Chris Bosh is going to have a lot of space to work with in the paint.

Addition by subtraction is also at work here. Andrea Bagnani is now the clear starting center for the Raptors, which will allow him to continue his strong development this season without having to look over his shoulder. This deal also sends Jamario Moon to the Heat. While Moon had the athletic gifts to provide a similar impact of a player like Marion, his unwillingness to play in the paint and his often questionable shot selection made him a liability on the offensive end; his penchant for jumping on pump fakes making him a liability on the defensive end.

Losing Jermaine O’Neal is significant on the defensive end. His ability to draw charges, block shots, rebound, and in general, intimidate in the paint, will be difficult to make up. That being said, the offense is likely to flow more with the inclusion of Marion who can run and slash, which was one of Toronto’s major deficiencies prior to the All-Star break.

The acquisition of Marcus Banks may give the Raptors a combo guard who can defend the one, but with Jose Calderon and the recent improvement of Roko Ukic, minutes may be difficult to find for the veteran guard.

Improved perimeter defense and a better offensive flow sound good on paper, but so did the remaking of the twin towers with Jermaine O’Neal and Chris Bosh. So why is the Raptor’s season still worth watching? For that, we need to look at their upcoming schedule.

The Toronto Raptors have 27 games remaining. Of those 27 games, 16 are at home. Only 11 of those games are against teams with a winning record: Cleveland, Phoenix, Dallas, Houston, Miami, Utah, Philadelphia (twice), Detroit, Orlando, and Atlanta.

Looking at the last 30 days of the season, the Raptors definitely have a chance to put a major run together. Of the final 16 games of the regular season, the Raptors will play only 6 away games and will face only two teams with records currently above .500: Orlando, now without Jameer Nelson, and Atlanta.

The Raptors have a history of season-changing runs. In the 2001/2002 season, the Raptors had lost 17 of 18 games, which left their playoff hopes so few that Vince Carter opted to have season-ending knee surgery. After the announcement, the Raptors went 12 of 14 to close the season and make the playoffs. With the run, the Raptors made history by being one of only three teams across the NBA, NHL, and MLB to have gone through a 13-game losing streak during the season and still advance to the postseason.

By no means is making the playoffs going to be a given for a Raptor squad that has struggled to find its identity this season, but the recent trade and favorable schedule to close out the season leaves the possibility for some late-season heroics from the Toronto Raptors. Stay tuned.

Image by Daniele Sartori