28-15, a .651 winning percentage, accounting for second in the Eastern Conference, and tied for sixth in the NBA; the Toronto Raptors have materialized as one of the NBA’s elite.
What’s important to note, has been the team’s success despite missing key cogs for the majority of the season.
Jonas Valanciunas, the team’s most talented big man, suffered a major hand injury which forced him to miss over a month of play. In the meantime, Bismack Biyombo stepped into the void, imposing his defensive intensity and rebounding awaiting JV’s return.
DeMarre Carroll, the big catch in the off-season, was brought in for leadership, defensive toughness, his knowledge of moving the basketball, and three point shooting. However, he’s been inflicted with a significant knee injury — a lengthy one at that. He’s played in just 23 out of 43 games thus far. They’ve been an elite team despite missing key guys, which shouldn’t be a surprise as they’ve been a very successful regular season team in the last two season (franchise records in wins in a season, divisional champions).
The recent developments in the Eastern conference – Kyle Lowry named an all-star starter, the firing of Cleveland Cavaliers coach, David Blatt – have sparked a topic of discussion among the NBA voice; are the Toronto Raptors capable of overtaking the Cavaliers and winning the Eastern conference?
Well, yes. They are.
Taking a look at all 30 teams in the league swallowed up in one area, there are six notables that have moved into their own little category: the Los Angeles Clippers, the Cavaliers, the Oklahoma City Thunder, the San Antonio Spurs, the Golden State Warriors, and the Raptors. A common factor among these teams, is their league best numbers in offensive and defensive efficiency. As a result, these are the six best teams in the entire league.
The Raptors are among the contenders of the league. The thing is, they’ve been among the contenders statistically in the past couple years, yet have failed to get out of the first round.
But this time around, outside of the Cavs, the Raptors are the only Eastern conference team in that notable group illustrated in the chart above (Washington Wizards, Atlanta Hawks were better than the Raptors last season).
Comparing the 2014-2015 season to the current standing of the Raptors statistically, offensively, they are very similar. However, last season, the Raptors were the third best team in the league in offensive efficiency behind the Warriors, and the Clippers. This season thus far, like we’ve mentioned, they are the sixth best team in offensive efficiency. The major difference, though, is the significant improvement defensively, and this is without their best defensive player in the lineup.
Last season, the Raps were 23rd in the league in defensive efficiency; granted, considering guys who logged major minutes – Lou Williams, Greivis Vasquez, and an unhealthy Amir Johnson – were underperforming defensively, and that’s an understatement.
This time around, a major jump in the defensive chart has the Raptors sitting at 11th in the league.
The Raptors are efficient, productive, and consistent on both ends of the court; a recipe for success, considering the best teams in the league dominate on both ends.
Another factor in the Raptors’ chances of winning the East, is the depth they possess. As teams start to buckle down for positioning, and prepare for the playoffs, players can start to run out of gas.
With many of the top teams, including the Raptors, resting their top guys or facing injury problems, other guys need to produce. Luckily for the Raptors, they have a roster that’s capable of going 11-deep.
That includes the guys like Cory Joseph, Luis Scola, Patrick Patterson, Biyombo, and DeMarre Carroll, who pushes both James Johnson and Terrence Ross to the bench. Each of the individuals mentioned add something very important to the success of the Raptors: defense, offensive production, rebounding, or all of the above. Comparing the Raptors to a team like the Warriors, or the Spurs, the common factor is the depth of their rosters; guys who can contribute, and contribute consistently.
So far, we’ve seen big time contributions in timely manners from Cojo, Scola, Biyombo, Carroll, etc, etc. Getting efficient play and production from the bench is necessary. Not all of the main guys are going to be great for 82 games, not including the obvious need for rest.
Lastly, the Raptors have a pair of leaders that have proven they can perform under pressure. They’re indisputably the best backcourt in the Eastern conference, the second best in the league behind the ‘Splash Brothers,’ and the fourth best scoring duo as of January 12th – credit to an illustration from TSN’s Josh Lewenberg. DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry are the closest things to NBA superstars; unless you’d like to argue that they are on that level.
But, that’s a different argument for another time.
So, let’s check back: they’re dominating among the league’s best on both ends statistically, there are very few better overall benches in the league, and they have a pair of big-time talents. They currently sit 3 games behind the Cavs for the top of the East. Do they have enough to overtake them?
Last season, it bit them right in the back when the bench was not capable of going 10-deep; when injuries came down, it affected everything on both ends, which led to that great collapse that led to the re-creation of the identity in the off-season – player and system-wise.
The Raptors have everything necessary to be the Eastern conference’s best, but it will take some help from Cleveland.
3 games back of the Cavs right now, the Raptors must do their job to win games. They’re doing their part, winning seven straight going into a match-up with the Clippers on Sunday. However, the Raptors are closing in thanks to some dropped games by LeBron James and company – the most notable one, recently losing by an abysmal 34 points, 132-98 to the Warriors.
Looking at the next 10 games for the Raps and Cavs, there’s a similarity in the difficulty of their schedules.
Cavaliers: Bulls, Timberwolves. Suns, @ Pistons, Spurs, @ Pacers, @ Hornets, Celtics, Pelicans, Kings.
Raptors: Clippers, Wizards, Knicks, Pistons, @ Nuggets, @ Suns, @ Trail Blazers, @ Pistons, @ Timberwolves, @ Bulls.
Both teams have their mix of elite challenges and lowly opponents, but the tough part is the six-game road trip for the Raptors.
With David Blatt’s firing, and constant bickering regarding Kevin Love‘s situation, there’s hope that the chemistry issue plays a positive part for the Raptors.
There’s a chance for the Raptors to take the first spot in the East. The Cavaliers are on a bit of slump in the middle of a major organizational, and coaching transition, while the Raptors are winning games. They’re playing well on both ends, they’ve got a solid bench, and a pair of stars that are on another level right now. If the trend continues, there’s no reason the Raptors shouldn’t be the best in the East in the near future.
