Biggest Surprises and Disappointments for Toronto Raptors
There may be no bigger surprise in the NBA than the 22-7 Toronto Raptors holding down the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference past the quarter mark of the 2014-15 regular season.
While it doesn't hold the respect of what a similar position in the more revered Western Conference would garner, it's still a commendable feat for a franchise that is hoping to maintain a level of consistency atop the standings.
The schedule has been a blessing in disguise up to this point. Going 14-3 at the Air Canada Centre (the most home games for any team in the East) and owning a 15-2 record against teams under .500 has made the Raptors' basketball lives all the more easier.
Their current six-game road trip against some of the best the league has to offer, which began with a 129-120 loss to the Chicago Bulls on Dec. 22, is their toughest test to date. How they emerge from this stretch shouldn't define their year by any means, however. Even so, it's a challenge that guard Greivis Vasquez knows his teammates are ready to face head on, per Steven Loung of Sportsnet.ca: “It’s important that we play good teams because it’s really going to test our character. We haven’t really faced adversity and everything right now is great, but I think we’re ready for a couple of premium tests.”
While the journey to first place has been full of memorable moments and revelations, it hasn't been devoid of setbacks either.
The following will best put into perspective just how far this team and its players have come, as well as what/who has faltered along the way.
Surprise: Lou Williams Delivers the Goods
1 of 6
"Louuuuuuuuuuuuuu."
If the Raptors have possession of the basketball with the clock winding down before the end of a quarter, you better believe that Lou Williams is going to be the one hoisting up that final shot.
It's become routine now. He'll stand at the top of the arc, watch the seconds tick down and make his move from there.
His scoring prowess has been quite the boon for a second unit that needed an infusion of offense over the offseason. General manager Masai Ujiri acquired him through a deal with the Atlanta Hawks that also landed the team fan favorite Lucas "Bebe" Nogueira.
Last year's bench was 27th in the league in scoring at 26.1 points. With Williams now a part of the group, that number has risen to 40.0 points and is third, per HoopsStats.com. The team is 19-4 when the unit scores 30 or more points.
There were obvious concerns, as Williams was coming off an ACL injury that cost him most of the 2012-13 season. Thankfully, there haven't been any signs that it will ever rear its ugly head and become an issue down the road.
His tenacious play has thrust him right into the conversation for NBA Sixth Man of the Year. He ranks fourth among qualified bench scorers (at least 20 games) with 14.6 points, per NBA.com. That's also third-most on the team behind Kyle Lowry (20.0) and DeMar DeRozan (19.4).
He has bought into Dwane Casey's defensive schemes and turned himself into a credible defender with a 102.4 defensive rating (points allowed per 100 possessions, fourth on team). It's a sound commitment from a player who has built a reputation on being just a scorer.
Williams has failed to score in double figures just seven times this year. Four of those outings were losses. That just goes to show how important he is in the grand scheme of what the Raptors are trying to do.
When he's lighting up the scoreboard, the team is better off because of it.
This is yet another feather in Ujiri's cap. What a steal.
Disappointment: Terrence Ross Remains a Mystery
2 of 6
You never know what you're going to get from Terrence Ross on a nightly basis. It's a disheartening place to be when you consider his potential.
He has exhibited some improvement in almost all aspects of his game, though. His scoring (10.9 to 12.3), field-goal percentage (42.3 to 44.1) and rebounding (3.1 to 3.4) are all ascending, if ever so slightly.
His defense remains a work in progress with his defensive rating (103.5 to 106.7) dipping. There are glimpses of stout perimeter defending mixed in with mental miscues that can easily be rectified through more work. Just not overnight.
With DeRozan out, Casey has made it a priority to run more plays for the third-year swingman, per Mike Ganter of the Toronto Sun. “Usually we try to get DeMar going, now it is him," the coach said. "Some of the sets are now called for him where before he was kind of playing off DeMar. But none of it is forced. It’s kind of in the flow of the game, and he has done an excellent job offensively.”
That change has resulted in better numbers from Ross. He's averaging 14.2 points on 44.4 percent shooting, as well as 4.5 rebounds in 30.3 minutes since Nov. 30.
So why is he disappointing? It's a problem that's hovered over him since being drafted in 2012: inconsistency.
During the Raptors' six-game winning streak from Dec. 12 to Dec. 21, Ross shot less than 40 percent four times and 30 percent three times. This has a lot to do with him being a rhythm shooter who can go from hot to cold in a heartbeat.
He also relies far too much on three-pointers for his scoring, with 50.4 percent of his points coming from behind the arc. With his athletic gifts, he should make more of an effort to attack defenses and get to the rim.
Maybe that's not his game. It should be, though.
Surprise: James Johnson Offers a Little Bit of Everything
3 of 6
When he's not cranking it back and dropping the hammer on Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond, James Johnson is making waves as a multifaceted weapon off the bench.
His calling card has always been his physical brand of defense. He can guard multiple positions with his 250-pound frame, outmuscling the opposition into making costly decisions.
During a 105-89 victory over the rival Brooklyn Nets on Dec. 17, Johnson shut down Joe Johnson in the fourth quarter and rattled the seven-time NBA All-Star. Joe missed both of his field-goal attempts and all three of his free throws.
Tim Bontemps of the New York Post wrote that the Raptors "now have at least a solid option to throw at a talented wing scorer such as Johnson, the kind of option that could’ve swung the playoff series between these two teams last spring."
While he can go overboard in his offensive endeavors at times, Johnson does his best to stay within the confines of his game. Only 31 of his 143 shots (prior to the Chicago game) have come from 16 feet or farther, per Basketball-Reference.com.
His post game is an underrated gem, as he uses quick fakes and up-and-unders for his 77.5 shooting percentage around the rim. His arsenal is one of the most elaborate on the team.
He certainly has an attitude, but not one that's a detriment to those around him. It's a fighting spirit that pushes him to make the most of his time on the floor. You'll never have to question his effort. It comes in many forms.
This isn't the same guy from 2011-12. Johnson is an enforcer with a second-degree black belt in kenpo karate, which is a subtle reminder of his fortitude. Problems with his attitude have yet to arise, and it doesn't look like they ever will.
He's not Charles Oakley, but he's one of the closest things the Raptors have had to Oak since his tenure with the franchise in 2001.
Disappointment: DeMar DeRozan Suffers Groin Injury
4 of 6
DeMar DeRozan's iron man-like abilities kept him on the hardwood for all but 11 games through his first five seasons.
Things came crashing down on Nov. 28 when an unfortunate tumble against the Dallas Mavericks in a 106-102 loss caused the All-Star to tear a tendon in his groin. He's been out of action ever since.
He was averaging 19.4 points and 4.2 rebounds in 16 games prior to the injury.
Eric Koreen of the National Post reported that he'll likely remain on the shelf through the Raptors' current road trip. The team doesn't return home until Jan. 8 when it hosts Al Jefferson and the Charlotte Hornets.
His teammates have handled their business without him, going 9-4 since Nov. 30. They've created a cushion in the standings, should this current stretch prove to be unsuccessful.
The prospect of such a thing occurring doesn't faze head coach Dwane Casey, though, per Koreen.
“If something happens where we don’t come out [with wins], let’s learn from it, continue to grow and move forward,” Casey said. “We are a growing team and we are going to hit rough spots in the road."
DeRozan's knack for creating contact and getting to the charity stripe is sorely missed. Toronto ranked second with 29.4 free-throw attempts before he got hurt. That ranking has dropped considerably to 22.5 attempts and 16th overall, per NBA.com.
The depth off the bench has compensated well for his absence, yet it's hard to judge the impact this team can make without (arguably) its second-best player on the floor.
With no return date set in stone, the Raptors can only hope that their hot streak lives on without such an important piece in the fold.
Surprise: Scoring at Will
5 of 6
There is so much firepower up and down this roster that Casey may never have to place precedence on improving the offense in practice again. It works effortlessly.
I doubt anyone really expected this to be a problematic area in the first place, though. Yet here the Raptors are, placing near the top in all major scoring categories.
| Category | Number | Rank |
| Points per game | 108.2 | 2nd |
| FG% | 46.3 | 10th |
| 3P% | 36.5 | 9th |
| FT% | 79.0 | 3rd |
| Offensive rating | 111.7 | 2nd |
| Points off turnovers | 17.3 | 7th |
| Second-chance points | 15.3 | 4th |
| Points in the paint | 44.8 | 6th |
They've failed to drop at least 100 points only five times this season. They lost two of those outings, against the Bulls (100-93 on Nov. 13) and the Cleveland Cavaliers (105-91 on Dec. 5). It's become rare for the team to fall short of that mark.
Following their win on Nov. 28, Dallas Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle praised Casey for the job he's done in constructing the offense despite being more of a defensive-minded practitioner, per Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun:
"One of the things about guys with a background as great defensive coaches is that they study so many offences that they are trying to stop that they have a mind flooded with great offensive ideas.
The key thing is they have all two-way players. They have guys that can play offence and defence. That’s how you build a team that is built to win in the playoffs.
"
Disappointment: Rough Start for Greivis Vasquez
6 of 6
The backup point guard with a boundless love for the city of Toronto is quickly falling out of favor with the fanbase.
Vasquez is regressing on both ends of the floor, turning into more of a burden and less of a valued contributor.
He showcases an impulsive need to force his offense, electing to take lousy shots when moving the basketball is a more sensible option.
His 39.5 field-goal percentage is the lowest of his career. He also has a fondness for taking transition three-pointers, which becomes all the more aggravating when you take into account his feeble 30 percent from the perimeter.
As William Lou of Raptors Republic notes, his defense may be the biggest dilemma of all:
"Vasquez has exactly one thing going for him on defense: he’s tall for a point guard, standing at 6-foot-6. That’s it. He’s extremely slow, doesn’t have much by way of quickness and is quite frankly lazy at times.
Physical disadvantages in part accounts for Vasquez’s struggles in containing penetration, but the problem is worsened by Vasquez’s lack of defensive awareness. Vasquez often makes confusing choices in help defense scenarios.
"
Casey inserted Vasquez into the starting lineup at shooting guard when DeRozan went down, although that experiment didn't last long as Landry Fields eventually took over.
A lineup of Lowry, Vasquez, Ross, Amir Johnson and Jonas Valanciunas has appeared in nine games with a miserable defensive rating of 118.1. With Fields, that number gets substantially better at 93.4 (six games).
Things will slowly return to normal should Vasquez start being more of a facilitator again and help manage the team accordingly. He's trying too much on offense (bad idea) and not showing enough attention to detail on the other side of the ball.
Christopher Walder is considered by many to be the "songbird of his generation" and the greatest center to have never played professional, collegiate, high school, house league or pickup basketball. His work has been published on Bleacher Report, SB Nation, SI.com, FanSided and several other online outlets. You may follow him on Twitter at @WalderSports.
All statistics, unless otherwise noted, are courtesy of NBA.com/Stats and Basketball-Reference.com.
.png?w=480)
.jpg?w=600 "Ravens star calls out former coach")
