Despite going through a season of ups and downs, the Raptors will be playing postseason basketball.
With a weekend win over Charlotte, Toronto locked itself into a spot in the NBA's Play-In Tournament, an opportunity for the franchise to earn its ninth playoff berth in 10 years. According to Pascal Siakam, an opportunity is all the Raptors need.
"We've just been trying to figure out our rhythm and continue to fight," Siakam told ESPN's Malika Andrews. "Now that we're in a position where we can get in there, that's just our goal — get in the playoffs, and again, I always say that once we get into the playoffs we can make some noise.
"I don't think it would be fun for a lot of teams to play us."
"I always say that once we get into the playoffs, we can kind of make some noise and I don't think it would be fun for a lot of teams to play us."
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) April 3, 2023
Pascal Siakam on the Raptors' mindset. They've already clinched a spot in the play-in tournamentpic.twitter.com/1RJFDkTiNk
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MORE: Breaking down the Raptors' NBA Playoff & Play-In Tournament chances
Siakam, who has already been to the playoffs five times during the first seven years of his career, knows a thing or two about postseason success. He expressed confidence that the team has what it takes to make it a sixth playoff appearance since his rookie season in 2016-17. The return of Siakam's draftmate will certainly play a role.
"Adding Jakob [Poeltl] to the mix [gives us] that rim protection that we've always wanted," Siakam said.
Since acquiring Poeltl, the Raptors are 13-9, including seven wins in their last 10 games. Poeltl's return completes the rookie trio from 2016-17 — the other key member being Fred VanVleet, who has also sung the big man's praises.
MORE: How Jakob Poeltl is unlocking the Raptors' offense
Thanks to last year's finish as the East's fifth seed, all but four players on the roster have postseason experience, two of whom are rookies. That experience should aid in the Play-In Tournament and a potential first-round series in the NBA Playoffs.
Depending on their finish and Play-In Tournament performance, the Raptors would advance to likely face either the Celtics or Bucks, two teams they will see during the final week of the season.
There is still plenty of business to handle before the regular season ends, but the Raptors have earned their chance to "make some noise." We'll find out if they're as ready to do so as Siakam says they are.
