Toronto Raptors
The 2019-20 Toronto Raptors season can be defined by the fact that despite losing Kawhi, a 2nd-place finish in the Eastern Conference was replicated with an even better winning percentage than the year before.
What did we learn?
The Raptors ran it back!
Sans Kawhi, Masai Ujiri kept the vets on board and the Raptors did not miss a beat.
Kyle Lowry is still the leader of this team, the fire hydrant you can count on. But it was Pascal Siakam, the reigning Most Improved player, who really took his game up another level just as we advocated he would.
We were hooked when we heard that Siakam had taken over all of Kawhi’s old workouts and regimen. Then Spicy P began the season hotter than a ghost pepper. Siakam had his struggles in the bubble and playoffs, yes, but let’s not forget that three years ago he was a nobody, a WHO HE!? (It has also been reported that he did not leave his house for three months during quarantine.) And just two years ago, Siakam averaged 7.2 points per game compared to a staggering 22.9 points this season. Siakam was selected to his first All-Star Game and the beginning of his season was so good that he was seriously mentioned in the early early season MVP talks. It’s hard to remember a player getting this good this fast.
Fred VanVleet continued his stellar play from the 2019 Finals and is in line for a big, well-earned pay day next week. No stranger to the big moments, VanVleet is a tough and reliable hard-working player you want on your side.
The big un’s down low, Gasol and Ibaka are not given enough credit for being the prototypical big in today’s game: Capable of stretching the floor while also anchoring the defense. Speaking of defense, OG Anunoby was a stalwart on the wing, a switchable ace who also hit the biggest shot of the season for Toronto. We love Anunoby’s demeanor.
The Raptors dealt with numerous injuries to a plethora of players up and down the roster throughout the season but were a masterclass in WHO HE!?, finding players that we had never heard of before that turned out to be extremely productive. Undrafted Terence Davis. Chris Boucher from the G League. Both power dunkers we must add! (Side note: The TSN announcers had some of the best power dunk calls in the league, always a treat.)
Speaking of power dunkers and improvements, Norm Powell was somebody who continually impressed us more and more as the season went on. Powell had a breakout year, averaging 16.0 points per game, up from his previous career-high average of 8.6 points.
Nick Nurse was the well-deserved Coach of Year, a no brainer, really. So much of winning team basketball is the team that has players with well-defined roles best suited to their talents. That’s the Raptors, always prepared and calculated, understanding of what needs to be done. It also helps that everybody on the floor at all times can shoot the three and play defense. That’s a luxury that can continue and perhaps the Raptors will be a sleeping giant once more.
Hey, Masai. RUN IT BACK AGAIN!!!
_____________________________________
What are the answers to our Season Preview Final Questions?
Will Masai Ujiri actually bring back the super vets who are on their way to essentially becoming aging dinosaurs? Or will Toronto get a maximum return for their assets (just like DeRozan) and start this reboot? These questions are going to be even more difficult and interesting if Toronto is sitting at 3rd or 4th in the East.
Masai Ujiri did not trade any of the vets and we urge him to bring them back again.
Has there ever been a reigning champion who was a sleeping giant? And don’t forget about the Ewing Theory!
The 2019-20 Raptors were the reigning champion sleeping giant that we thought they could be!
_____________________________________
Would our preseason Over/Under prediction have hit?
RUN IT BACK!!! OVER 46.5 wins. (57% winning pct)
Raptors 2019-20 final record: (53-19) 74% winning pct
YES, our preseason Over/Under hit! The Raptors achieved their 47th win in their first game in the bubble against the Lakers.
_____________________________________
What’s Next?
Figure out the direction of the franchise. You know how we feel. It seems like no matter what the Raptors are going to be super competitive.
Is it even possible money-wise to be able to bring everybody back? We were told there would be no math.
If Marc Gasol doesn’t return from Spain, the Raptors will be in the market for a big, preferably one who can shoot threes and defend. Preferably a big ole Spaniard.
He did not play a lot this season, but Matt Thomas’s three-ball was as good as advertised: 47.5 percent, albeit on only 99 total attempts.
Giannis Free Agency Summer 2021 looms.
_____________________________________
