Can the Toronto Raptors repeat? A cloud that loomed over the squad throughout their off-season. The answer to repeating is Absolutely. Fresh off the after-glow from winning the 2019 NBA championship, the Toronto Raptors arrived at their training camp to face media predictions that they will be among the weaker teams in the Eastern Conference. The narrative has been that with the exit of Kawhi Leonard to the Los Angeles Clippers that the Raptors will be at best, a low seed in the playoffs, some have them missing the postseason completely. Early returns indicate that the demise of the champs, have been greatly exaggerated. The Toronto Raptors, minus starters Kyle Lowry, and Serge Ibaka for much of the early season, are 11-4, undefeated at the Scotiabank Centre. The Raptors are 8th in points per game (PPG), 10th in assists per game (APG), and 10th in the NBA in rebounds per game. Those are their rankings compared to every other team in the league.
So how is Toronto getting it done? The answer is the play of players who have made the most of their extra time on the court. Everyone that was not named Lowry or Ibaka knew that they would have to step in their leaders’ absence, and step up they did. Players such as Chris Boucher, in his first full season with the team, is averaging 6 PPG, Terence Davis is averaging 6 PPG, and off-season acquisition from the Brooklyn Nets, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, is scoring 9 minutes PPG with his increase in playing time. Add to the fact that their healthy starters, Fred VanVleet, and Pascal Siakam (the 2019 Most Improved Player), are having career years. VanVleet, now in the starting lineup, is averaging 18 PPG and 7 APG. Siakam has picked up right where he left off from his awesome 2019 season. Pascal is leading the team in scoring, averaging 25.7 PPG, and he his grabbing 8.5 RPG.
The combination of that production more than makes up for the missing stats of Leonard. Now, there are fresh young legs that have been waiting in Leonard’s shadow to run loose, now is their chance. Young players also do not need “load management”. With a record of 11-5, sitting 2nd in the Atlantic Division, and Lowry/Ibaka set to return to the starting lineup soon, the Toronto Raptors are in perfect position to not only make the playoffs, but repeat as NBA Finals champions.