Raptors face mental hurdle against Knicks and Celtics after preseason loss

TORONTO · The Toronto Raptors' two-point preseason loss to the New York Knicks has showed a persistent and troubling pattern against their Atlantic Division rivals. Starting in December 2023, the Raptors have lost 15 consecutive regular season games to the Knicks, meaning for almost three years Toronto has not won a single game against New York. A similar dynamic exists with the Boston Celtics, who have won 15 of their last 16 regular season meetings with Toronto since December 2022, winning four season series in a row. With the Raptors aiming to contend, these prolonged struggles against elite Eastern Conference foes have emerged as a significant hurdle.

Star forward Scottie Barnes offered a candid assessment after a 50-point preseason win over a Knicks bench squad on October 13. "Obviously, they didn't really have their guys out there on the floor," Barnes said. He added that the victory "felt solid though, win the game, but, you know, we got a game, we got tomorrow." The day before that win, Barnes was asked about his feelings on the matchup in Toronto and seemed to struggle to find words. After a reporter clarified by asking if being at home "gave it some added juice," Barnes finally settled on his response.

The subsequent loss to a more complete Knicks lineup, however, reinforced the scale of the challenge. Journalist Noah Curitti noted that Knicks centre Karl-Anthony Towns posed major problems in the recent game, recording a double-double of 13 points and 15 rebounds while dishing out nine assists. Contending with Towns's combination of size and skill is identified as a key factor if Toronto hopes to consistently defeat New York this season and beyond. Against Boston, the Raptors have upgraded by signing Kawhi Leonard, who is expected to match up with Paul George if Barnes can take on the Jayson Tatum assignment. The Celtics' point guard Payton Pritchard, however, presents a fearsome challenge for Toronto's starters with his offensive firepower, potentially forcing the Raptors into a more defensively oriented lineup. The team's playoff history adds another layer, as the Celtics also defeated the Raptors in their only postseason matchup in 2020.

With the likelihood of facing one or both of these teams in the playoffs this year, the psychological impact of repeated losses is compounded. The Raptors are at a turning point where they may finally be equipped to handle the conference's best teams. The organization did not bring Leonard back to carry the team for 82 games, but to make a difference when games matter most. For now, the question remains when Scottie Barnes and the Raptors will overcome this specific mental and on-court hurdle against their top rivals.

With files from Yahoo Sports and Raptors HQ