Biggest Early-Season Storylines for the Toronto Raptors
Nothing like a scorching-hot start to the 2014-15 regular season to keep fans of the Toronto Raptors nice and toasty during these winter months.
Not even the most diehard of supporters could have projected this miraculous 16-6 stretch. It's a borderline Cinderella story with size 14 sneakers and 7:30 tipoffs replacing glass slippers and midnight curfews.
Sitting atop the feeble Atlantic Division is one thing, but holding down the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference with the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers (evil stepsisters?) in the rear-view mirror is when the respect starts pouring in.
I guess you can say that they started from the bottom, now they're here. I hear that line is very popular with global ambassadors.
Head coach Dwane Casey has preached on numerous occasions to both the media and his players that the NBA season is a marathon, not a sprint. While things are happy-go-lucky north of the border at the moment, there's still plenty of basketball left to be played.
Transitioning from the role of chaser to chasee is a huge step in the development of this ballclub. It's a welcome position to be in, although it may be a tad nerve-wracking to some of the younger players on the roster.
It's easy to sell the Raptors short in terms of their chances at the Larry O'Brien Trophy. This is a franchise that has gotten out of the first round of the playoffs on just one occasion. Being 10 games over the .500 mark in December isn't enough evidence to sway the most adamant of doubters.
These are uncharted waters filled with ravenous sharks who want nothing more than to sink their teeth in and yank the team off its perch.
The road to the postseason is off to one fiery beginning, but where it ends is anyone's guess.
These are some of the key storylines you need to be looking at if you haven't followed Canada's team as vehemently as the "We The North" movement.
Beasts of the East
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A seven-player trade that sent Rudy Gay to the Sacramento Kings during December of last year sparked a rebirth in a franchise that desperately needed a new change of direction.
The team has gone 58-28 since then, good enough for the best record in the East.
Head coach Dwane Casey was impressed with the way his players rallied after such a blockbuster deal, per Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca:
"We took off. Guys committed to everything, they did a great job of playing hard, playing committed, playing together. We established our identity at that time of playing hard. And that's who we've got to be.
It was, 'do we have enough to compete to win?' That was the biggest question and we did. I wouldn't say it was easy because nobody knew it was going to turn out the way it did.
"
The acquisition of quality reserves (Greivis Vasquez, Chuck Hayes, Patrick Patterson and John Salmons) with team-oriented agendas turned a 6-12 start into a franchise-best 48 victories.
If that kind of success continues to carry over, there's no reason to think the Raptors can't topple the 50-win plateau for the first time.
It's not as if they're simply lining up inferior competition and mowing them down. The Cavaliers (13-7), Atlanta Hawks (14-6), Washington Wizards (14-6) and Memphis Grizzlies (17-4) have all fallen at their feet. Those are quality wins over some of the NBA's finest.
A stretch of 11 games in November with nine at the Air Canada Centre certainly helped their cause. They piled up 10 victories during that span, with their only loss being to the Bulls on Nov. 13, 100-93.
With the Atlantic Division in a state of disarray, it's hard to imagine Toronto failing to land home-court advantage. Its 16 wins are double what the second-place Brooklyn Nets have (8-11).
Seeding in the standings will fluctuate from time to time with four teams (Atlanta, Washington, Cleveland and Chicago) sitting within three games of Toronto. That No. 1 slot will bounce around like a hot potato.
It's just nice to be there in the thick of things in a conference that hasn't been this wide-open in years.
Remember the Name: Kyle Lowry
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As one of the more egregious snubs from the Eastern Conference All-Star team last season, Kyle Lowry is making sure his brilliant play isn't ignored once again.
The 28-year-old was recently named NBA Player of the Week for games played Dec. 1 through Dec. 7, per NBA.com. With DeMar DeRozan recovering from a torn tendon in his left groin, Lowry picked up the slack with ridiculous numbers of 29.3 points (league high) and 8.7 assists.
That includes a career-high 39 points in a 123-104 thrashing of the Utah Jazz on Dec. 3.
Even though voting hasn't opened up to the public yet, Casey wants fans to let their voices be heard and get Lowry chosen as a starter for Feb. 15 in New York City, per Mike Ganter of the Toronto Sun:
"He has played at an All-Star level, and he deserves to be an All-Star this year. I hope our fans will get out their pencils and do 15 or 25 ballots apiece and vote. Let's make sure we get him on the All-Star team, because he deserves it."
His importance to this ballclub goes way beyond just being a statistician's dream. While 20.1 points, 7.5 assists and 4.8 rebounds deserve the utmost praise, it's the intangibles he brings to the table that speak volumes.
He's the unquestioned leader, both on the floor and in the locker room. His competitive nature runs 48 minutes strong, meaning a game is never over until that final buzzer sounds. It's a contagious mindset that spreads to his teammates.
It's his tenacity in making big plays that don't necessarily involve putting the ball in the hoop that his coach respects the most, per Doug Smith of the Toronto Star.
“He can’t tell you the technique he uses, he just gets it done," Casey said. "A loose ball on the floor, he’s going to come up with it; a charge to be taken, he’s going to get it. ... He just finds a way in those situations to get it done, and it’s just the DNA of Kyle.”
Sweet Lou Williams
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Masai Ujiri's golden touch turned John Salmons into the third-leading scorer on the squad and an early favorite for NBA Sixth Man of the Year.
Lou Williams has been a revelation off the bench with his instant firepower and knack for taking big shots. When he's feeling it on offense, there's no one on the hardwood who can match his confidence.
There were obvious concerns to be had after coming off an ACL injury, although he's put those fears to rest in a hurry.
A noticeable trend in the final moments of quarters has been to put the ball in his hands and live with the results.
While he did put together a string of games where he couldn't miss with the clock winding down, his hot streak has begun to fizzle out. Per Raptors HQ:
"Still amazed when Lou Williams misses a quarter ending buzzer beater.
— Raptors HQ (@RaptorsHQ) December 9, 2014"
No matter. His 13.9 points and underestimated defense (101.3 defensive rating, third on team) are more than anyone could have hoped for.
No one is more delighted than Casey, who now has a new weapon to dabble with in his second unit, per Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun.
"He’s been more than we expected," Casey said. "I knew that he was an excellent player, but you go in with reservations coming off the injury. He’s back 100 percent now, he’s stronger from it, so he’s been a pleasant plus for us so far.”
Williams was recognized for his efforts with NBA Player of the Week honors (Nov. 17 through Nov. 24) after averaging 23.7 points and 2.0 steals. His career-high 37 points led the way at Quicken Loans Arena in a 110-93 win over the Cavaliers on Nov. 22.
Don't be fooled if you happen to hear any boos directed his way during games. The "Lou" chants aren't dying anytime soon.
Can Someone Grab a Rebound?
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With two power forwards on the roster who don't excel at banging on the glass, it's hardly surprising to see the Raptors ranked where they are in rebounding (40.7 RPG, 26th).
Both Patrick Patterson (5.8) and Amir Johnson (5.2) sit 26th and 32nd, respectively, among qualified power forwards through 21 games, per ESPN.com.
Patterson is more of a perimeter-oriented talent, while Johnson's ankles hinder his ability to leap up and snatch boards.
Jonas Valanciunas is the only player averaging over six rebounds with 8.6, a slight decrease from his 2013-14 average of 8.8. Rey-Rey of TheNoLookPass.com notes the Raptors' rebounding struggles:
"Maybe someday, the Raptors will get a rebound.
— Rey-Rey (@TheNoLookPass) December 10, 2014"
In a 105-101 loss to the Cavaliers on Dec. 9, Toronto gave up four straight offensive rebounds in the final minutes of the fourth quarter. Casey was none too pleased with that sequence, per Wolstat of the Toronto Sun:
“That was one that was killer. We’ve got to get rebounds when it counts. I thought our guys battled, fought, controlled the game for most of the game, but you’ve got to close it out."
The 4 and 5 spots don't feature enough athleticism to be elite rebounders. Valanciunas has the most promise, averaging 13.5 rebounds over his last two outings. His numbers come and go with his inconsistent minutes, though.
There are going to be more games on the horizon where the difference between a win or a loss comes down to one or two plays. Wanting the rebound more than the next guy can sometimes outweigh physical gifts.
Maybe that won't be enough.
James Johnson Continues to Find Redemption
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Everyone deserves a second chance. Even the once-disgruntled James Johnson.
His first stint with the organization in 2011-12 was a bumpy road filled with animosity and built-up frustration. His relationship with Casey was shaky at best, resulting in Johnson eventually being shipped off to Sacramento.
When asked on media day about whether the dust had settled between the two, Casey assured everyone that things were going to be different this time, per Ryan McNeill of Raptors Republic:
"At that time of his career, he wasn’t ready to accept the role he was in. It wasn’t that it was personal or anything. I’ve got a different approach with James (Johnson) this time. He’s at a different place in his life as a person and doing a great job of really, really staying within his lane, keeping the game really simple and making the easy plays. That’s going to be his growth pattern and the more he is able to continue doing that the more he is going to grow as a player.
"
And that they have. Along with Williams, Johnson has helped fortify a bench mob that ranks seventh in points at 37.7, per HoopsStats.com.
Most of his offense occurs in the paint through cuts along the baseline or playing with his back to the basket. He sits second on the team with 76.8 percent of his points coming from that area.
His true value comes on the defensive end, bringing a physical style of man-to-man that the Raptors would have loved to have against the Nets in the 2014 NBA playoffs. His 100.1 defensive rating sits only behind Tyler Hansbrough's 94.3.
The lines of communication are open between the coaching staff and the six-year pro. No longer do we need to worry about butting heads and frowning faces.
This is the player Casey probably wished he had three years ago. He's fortunate to have him now.
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.
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