As Cavs, Bulls struggle, Toronto jumps out with vengeance.The basketball world is stirring more about who isnt on top in the East, than who is. That happens when you put the worlds best basketball player with two All-Stars and place them in a sad-sack sports town that everyone wants to see uplifted, and then that team coughs its way to a 5-7 first month as all hell breaks loose. Its hard not to rubberneck when theres a wreck. Yes, the vibe is, Whats wrong with the Cavs? rather than Whats right with the Raptors? And thats understandable, and even OK with Toronto. For now. Of course, theres also an underlying feeling that once LeBron James and the Cavs get their act together -- plus, while were at it, once the Bulls get healthy -- a shift in power within the East will be gradual. And should that happen, We The North will soon head south in the standings. Its that last part which rubs the Raptors and their believers the wrong way. So thats what the Raptors are aiming for as the calendar prepares to flip to December. Their goal is to mimic their biggest celebrity fan, meaning Drake, and demonstrate an ability to stick for months at the top of the charts. The Raptors managed to pass the seasons first test and get a jump on those other contenders who are distracted by issues. Great. Now its about the toughest part: Staying power and a fight for legitimacy. As you watch their chemistry, which is unusually firm for such a young team, and the continued bulldog mentality of Kyle Lowry and a bench thats longer than a night at a Sixers game, theres the temptation to love the Raptors long-term chance of Eastern rule. Dwane Casey, who was walking a tightrope without a contract extension this time last year, has been steady and sensational with his rotations, strategy and ability to reach his players. This is the best start in team history and the Raptors are making Toronto a tough place for others to visit. We keep fighting no matter what, Lowry said. We know we can play and compete with anyone. The Raptors are second in scoring (106.7 points, their most ever) and sixth in defense. If anyone thought that Lowry would get fat off the contract extension he earned last summer, well, you underestimated the pride of the man. Hes averaging 18.4 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds and gets in grills on defense. He doesnt always make the biggest play in tight games but hes never afraid to try. He has what I call winning DNA, Casey said. We had that with Gary Payton in Seattle [Casey was a Sonics assistant coach] and Kyle is like Gary. He just finds a way to get it done. While their seems to be an ongoing public tug-of-war about The Best Backcourt in the league -- Stephen Curry/Klay Thompson on the right, Bradley Beal/John Wall on the left -- Lowry and DeMar DeRozan have quietly gone about their business. Theyre the rock of this team and show a willingness to share the ball and the load, a big reason why the Raptors seem much older and more experienced than they are. Still, there are reasons for pause. The Raptors certainly owe their fast start to an adoring schedule that is next-to-last in the NBA in terms of difficulty, and theyve already played nine home games. Their signature win was in Cleveland, but who isnt taking advantage of the Cavs these days? They slipped past the Grizzlies and Thunder, who were operating at less than full strength. Also, did we mention the Raptors are in the East? The Suns and Blazers and Mavericks, solid teams stuck behind Goliaths out West, would love to know what thats like. Actually, theyve got an idea. Calling yourself the best team in the East is like having the bushiest comb-over at a bald mans convention. And so there are whispers from the outside, as you might expect, that the Raptors began to flex like a contender only just recently, courtesy of the clueless Cavs and limping Bulls (and Paul Georges broken leg which weakened the Pacers) and that the Raptors are merely the beneficiaries in an otherwise flimsy conference. Others will say the stamp of authenticity came last spring when the We The North slogan was proudly born and the Raptors noisily made a stand in the playoffs, losing a seven-game thriller in the first round. Or maybe it was when Andrea Bargani was shipped to the Knicks, scrubbing the roster of its last big slug. Or, going back even further, when Rudy Gay and his ailing shot selection were sent packing to Sacramento, addition by subtraction in terms of on-court chemistry. No matter which way you choose to view the Raptors of November, this is undeniable: Toronto is robust with confidence, fueled by young players on the rise and owns a seat at the table when the conversation is about who might finish with the best record in the East. They arent flawless and theres room for growth, and eventually theyll be confronted by the Cavs and Bulls when those teams are right. But this team, at the very least, has perked up the very underrated basketball pulse in Toronto (the sonic boom at Air Canada Centre is second to none) and has the city on a Vinsanity high for good reason. We know were not there yet, Casey said. Theres so much we can work on, so many situations we can improve upon. The further the season goes, the scouting will get better, teams will know us better. So weve got to get better and not look at the (standings). Were not there yet. Well learn more about the Raptors once we see more of Terrence Ross and his development. Hes perhaps the one player with untapped upside. Its just that hes really annoying to study. The raw athletic ability is insane. And for completely other reasons, so is his inconsistency. Ross is someone who can get a rise from the crowd with splashy plays -- a facial dunk off the break or a 3-point dagger -- but in between those plays, meh. Theres also Lou Williams, someone who can be a difference-maker this season. The Hawks gave up on him after knee surgery and Raptors GM Masai Ujiri grabbed him for a bottle of Molsons. Williams is bringing much-needed sixth-man heat and in the last five games has averaged 20.2 points in 23 minutes. The Raptors will also need to rebound better (theyre 25th out of 30) but lots of their misgivings are due to the continued development of a team loaded with players in their 20s. As Ujiri said: Were young and learning what it takes. And if youre among those raising some doubt and suspicion about the Raptors and their staying power, well, the Raptors will be the first to say theyre not that good yet. Which means, they believe theyve got another gear. Remember, this isnt a team that has maxed out. Theyre anxious and frisky. They had a taste of the playoffs last season and came tantalizingly close to reaching the second round. Thats significant for a franchise thats never won 50 games, even in theVince Carter years, and owns only one winning season since 2007. So, without a doubt, as the season lurches forward, the Cavs and Bulls will soon see better days and have a louder voice in the East. Heres the scary thing, though: Toronto might just be warming up.
Posted on: Fri, 28 Nov 2014 13:30:07 +0000
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