Toronto Raptors 2014-15 NBA Season Primer

Oct 7, 2014; Sacramento, CA, USA; Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) smiles after scoring a basket against the Sacramento Kings during the third quarter at Sleep Train Arena. The Sacramento Kings defeated the Toronto Raptors 113-106. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

As we continue our NBA preview series, we take a look at the Toronto Raptors

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Toronto Raptors 2013-14 record: 48-34

Toronto Raptors 2013-14 MVP: DeMar DeRozan-22.7 points, 4.0 assists, 4.3 rebounds per game

Three Things I Think I Know About The Toronto Raptors…

The Raptors are the third-best team in the East

Masai Ujiri is one of the best general managers in the league

The Raptors have the best fans in the NBA

Key Additions:

Lou Williams (free agency)

James Johnson (free agency)

Key Losses:

None

Toronto Raptors will be a playoff team if…

They avoid major injuries. Realistically, there is no way the Raptors don’t make the playoffs if they stay relatively healthy all season. Last season, they were one of the healthiest teams in the league and were the third-seed in the East. With the majority of the roster back and additions of Williams and Johnson, the Raptors should be a lock for, at worst, the sixth-seed in the East come playoff time.

Team Strengths:

Balance. The Raptors have a very balanced attack. Without a superstar, the Raptors rely on their depth to win them games. Last season, the Raptors had seven players average at least 9.0 PPG.

Rk	Player	G	MP	FG	FGA	FG%	3P%	PTS
1	DeMar DeRozan	79	38.2	7.6	17.8	.429	.305	22.7
2	Kyle Lowry	79	36.2	5.8	13.7	.423	.380	17.9
4	Amir Johnson	77	28.8	4.5	7.9	.562	.303	10.4
5	Jonas Valanciunas	81	28.2	4.4	8.3	.531	.000	11.3
6	Terrence Ross	81	26.7	3.9	9.3	.423	.395	10.9
7	Patrick Patterson	48	23.3	3.6	7.6	.477	.411	9.1
8	Greivis Vasquez	61	21.5	3.5	8.3	.417	.389	9.5

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 10/12/2014.

With that kind of scoring balance, the Raptors force teams to guard every position.

Team Weaknesses:

Inexperience. The Toronto Raptors are soooo young. When Kyle Lowry is your most experienced player, that’s a problem. The Raptors gained valuable playoff experience in the first round series against the Brooklyn Nets. Although the Raptors were a basket away from advancing to the conference semi-finals, last year’s playoff run was able to get the team accustomed to playing in big games and give them a taste of what it’s like. While the Raps are another year old and have that valuable playoff experience under their belt, they are still one of the younger teams in the league and that inexperience will probably be the difference this season.

2014-15 Toronto Raptors MVP will be…

Kyle Lowry.

While DeRozan had a better stat line last season, Lowry is the heart and soul, if you will, of the Raptors. Lowry got paid this offseason, and now it’s time he proves he was worth the investment. Lowry averaged 17.9 points and 6.8 assists this season. I’d expect his points to stay around 17.0 PPG and his assists to increase.

Season Defining Question:

Will the Raptors challenge the Bulls and Cavaliers for the top seeds in the East?

Best Case Scenario:

56-26

Worst Case Scenario:

46-36

As we continue our NBA preview series, we take a look at the Toronto Raptors

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