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NBA Power Rankings: 2014-15 Eastern Conference Forecast

By Shane Young

Oct 21, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose (1) sits on the bench against the Milwaukee Bucks during the second half at the United Center. The Bulls beat the Bucks 105-84. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 21, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose (1) sits on the bench against the Milwaukee Bucks during the second half at the United Center. The Bulls beat the Bucks 105-84. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 2, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) dunks the ball against the Brooklyn Nets during the second half in game six of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Barclays Center. The Nets defeated the Raptors 97 – 83. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /

3.  Toronto Raptors — 51-31

The North now has a full season of the post-Rudy Gay era to make a name for themselves.  Although, it’s evident everyone in modern pop culture knows who they are because of their global spokesman.  Drake has fully bought into supporting his lifelong team, and it’s great for the NBA.  Teams with lower prestige and those without a top five superstar still deserve to be recognized.  It’s the only way the league is going to grow and overtake the NFL in the coming years (I’m optimistic).

As far as schedule goes, Toronto has another positive quality on their side.  The Atlantic Division is composed of three non-playoff teams and one that barely has a chance to make the cut (Knicks).  The Raptors will be able to use the old tactic of beating up on Philadelphia and Boston, while coming out on top of close battles with Brooklyn and New York.  We’ll never know how many more wins could have transpired had Rudy Gay been dealt before December 8.  It should have happened.  They never should’ve obtained him.

Re-signing All-Star point guard Kyle Lowry, backup Greivis Vasquez, and forward Patrick Patterson played out to be perfect for Dwane Casey, as he now has coaching stability.  It’s important to have the same team returning from the year before, especially one that previously grabbed a No. 3 seed in the East.  They’re due for the same finish next April, but the playoff run will prove to have a different outcome.

The most underrated addition out East will be Louis Williams, who was just a member of the Hawks before this summer.  Toronto receives a double digit scorer that loves to play off the ball and spot up for outside jumpers, an area they ranked in the top 10 of during last year.  There’s rarely ever a better way to build than to increase your strongest attacks.  Their weakness, which is ball movement and getting easy offense in the halfcourt, will become stronger with another year of the sensational Lowry and DeRozan duo.  It’s hard to play with the team sometimes when you’re both talented in scoring off the dribble and creating on your own.

DeMar DeRozan is finished being overlooked as a top threat at the combo wing position.  Making the final cut with Team USA and having a larger scoring role due to Durant and George’s departure will help his shot selection and give him more leadership within this Raptors squad.