Toronto Raptors Season Preview

Toronto Raptors

2014 Record: 49-33

2015 O/U 45.5

Who are their stars?

Kyle Lowry is the teams go to player at point guard. Averaging 17 points per game he was the teams’ second leading scorer and led the team in assists and steals. He is a do everything point guard and his do everything ability gives them the ability to run different formations at different speeds. Beside him is another versatile player, Demar Derozen, who is the leading scorer in Toronto. At 6’7” Derozen can play the three in small lineups, but beside Lowry he gives Toronto one of the biggest backcourts in the league. The team is going to go as far as those two, and while neither are among the elite, they do have a strong enough core of role players to help the two become one of the better squads in the NBA

Who are the Glue Guys?

The Raptors made their priority signing this off-season in Demarre Carroll, and Carroll in ultimate glue guy. 3-and-D by definition Carroll has a defined set of skills and he is one of the better players in the league at it. He was paid accordingly and will be a key starter. Carroll can also play the four in those small lineups and allow Derozen to run in the three. His size may be questioned against some at that position, but his defense never will. The next glue guy is Jonas Valancuiunas and to me this team cannot go where it needs to go until he can get them there. Sure Carroll takes away some of the pressure, but the 6’11” shot blocker with some range has to take the step forward for Toronto to be complete. At age 23 he seems to have the ability and the upside to make this a strong core, I just have not yet seen him in the pressure situations to decide if this team and this player is ready to make that transition. In the end he fits well in this small lineup that seems to be in coach Dwayne Caseys’ vision, and that would also mean a lot of time for Terrance Ross. Ross is a career 37%, which is good enough to space the floor and against other small teams this lineup should be formidable. It should help clear up inside space for Lowry and Derozen, as the two are really the only two pure inside scorers in that lineup.

Rotation Players:

With the loss of Lou Williams, it appears Cory Joseph has been signed from San Antonio to become the player to fit that role as the “6th man”. Of course most times Ross will also come off the bench, but Joseph should see almost as many minutes. He is a much better defender than Lou Williams but does leave some scoring opportunity on the bench open. Draft pick Delon Wright may be able to play immediately and he should be able to take some of those shots, as scoring and penetrating was never a problem in college for the 23 year old. Patrick Patterson may be the listed starter most nights but he is going to be in a rotation with Luis Scola. These two will be the two who play when they run their regular lineup. Neither is flashy, but both are talented veterans signed to give this team some leadership it has not had. James Johnson, Bismark Biyombo, and Norman Powell should al also get some minutes this year. Johnson is a bench wing who can stretch the floor, Biyombo a shot blocker who can sub in for JV, as well as get some time at the four with Scola and Patterson. Powell may not get much time, but he will give high intensity minutes, and defense was the strength of the rookie from UCLA.

Where do they rank? Over Under? How far do they go?

Overall, you have to like the way this team has been constructed. Adding defense was the key and guys like Powell, Biyombo, and Carroll can justify that. This is still a young core as a whole, but I certainly don’t see the regression coming that is seen in Vegas. One thing you can point to, is Dwayne Casey, who has made his share of mistakes, especially in the playoffs, is not a well respected coach, but to refute that he has increased this team in wins in each of his last three seasons. I could see this team finding themselves in the three seed this year, but in overall power rankings I would put them fourth in the eastern conference. They have lost in the first round the past two seasons, and it should be a toss up whether or not they do it again this year. Ultimately I would look for the over, and would look for the Raptors to go as far as Dwayne Casey, and Lebron James allow them.

Over 45.5 wins, 6th best in the Eastern Conference, 14th in the NBA