Ringing In The New Year, Toronto Raptors Style
This New Year’s party will be broken down into three sections:
- A journey that now has the Toronto Raptors in the middle of any championship conversation. A year in review, or for some: the pre-drink.
- The franchise’s current state of affairs; that hour before the countdown strikes, where the mood is at an all-time high.
- The dreaded resolutions for the year ahead; no squad is perfect, and the Raps are no different — a time for admitting one’s faults, while planning adjustments for the future (which also goes by its alias: The morning after).
Now, as everyone starts to arrive, it’s time to serve the appetizers:
Let’s revisit 2014:
A place at the NBA’s big-dog table is well deserved. As the clock struck midnight at this time last season, the overwhelming majority never would have imagined 58 wins in a calendar year (ranking second overall) coming to fruition — if you did, filthy riches are keeping you warm at night.
Toronto’s gameplay began to come into focus after the Rudy Gay trade; but the movement that followed was truly the sight to behold:
“We The North” has become synonymous with not only the country of Canada, but across the basketball world as well; on the brink of becoming a cemented part of hoops culture.
This city has not felt this kind of vibe since the Blue Jays hoisted back-to-back World Series trophies in 1992 and ’93, alongside 1993’s emotionally draining playoff run of the Maple Leafs — euphoria over the hardwood squad no longer resides in fool’s paradise; the Raps are finally here to stay.
To sit on top of the Eastern Conference for 59 straight days (and counting), is testament to the night-in-night-out mindset of this team; no game is treated as a look-through to the next; when you combine that trait with the remarkable ability to apply an even-keel approach after a gut-wrenching loss, you attain a formula for success.
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With the festivities in full swing, and the countdown closing in; the main course is upon us. Whether you’re dusting off the 8-track player, visiting your vinyl collection, or asking Siri to cue up the music — Kool & The Gang‘s “Celebration” is a recommended selection; the jubilation is justified.
Current State of Affairs:
As any good host would do, making sure everyone is having a good time is part of the job — one who almost never enters the limelight, Tyler Hansbrough, is deserving of a little shout-out.
The Charles Oakley type impact (on a much smaller scale) of the former North Carolina standout has been an underrated aspect to the Raps’ big picture — on this rare occasion, Hansbrough breaks out his inner Tar-Heel while leaving JJ Hickson to the hands of the poster paparazzi:
The basketball gods have always displayed a cruel sense of humor, but I will never question their ability to throw a shindig.
What more can one ask for; a game of the year nominee going up against the Portland Trail Blazers to whet the appetite, followed up by a potential after-party feast coming up on Friday night vs. the Golden State Warriors.
The feeling in Portland’s Moda Center was an electric one; a playoff-type atmosphere at its finest — a prelude to the NBA Finals? … Well, let’s not get to ahead of ourselves, but does exist in the realm of possibility.
Even with the officiating crew in peak preseason form (a clear-path foul should live up to its name), this East-West battle showcased two of the league’s most prolific offenses — the Raps sitting at 108.1 points per game (tied for second), with the Blazers not far behind at a 104 clip (a ranking of sixth overall); it did not disappoint.
A side note to the masses: Always set your DVR to record at least an extra hour when these two juggernauts tip off — the odds of overtime are highly probable.
The ongoing road trip began as a naysayer’s dream. Critics were out in full force; unable to resist the notion that suiting up against some of the NBA’s top-tier without the confines of home would send Toronto falling back to earth.
Well, a 2-2 record so far is the only leg for a detractor to stand on, as the overall court session has done nothing but continue to shine a prosperous light on this franchise.
Look no further to this team’s depth to see why that glow gleams so bright:
Bench Contributions / Per Game:
- 39.6 Points (Rank: 5th)
- 4.5 Offensive Rebounds (Rank: 8th)
- .362 3-Point Percentage (Rank: 9th)
- 3.0 Steals (Rank: 9th)
- 4.1 Turnovers (Rank: 8th lowest)
Not to be overshadowed, the heart and soul of this movement, Kyle Lowry, needs to enter the conversation — What kind of a Raptors’ reception would it be without a little Lowry love? …
His career-high of 39 points against the Utah Jazz in early December is a prime video candidate for your party guests:
A demonstration on just how much K-Low means to this club are his home and road splits; exemplifying his leadership:
At home / Per game:
- 16.8 Points, 7.6 Assists, 43.5 Field Goal Percentage, 3.9 Free-Throw Attempts
On the road / Per game:
- 25.1 Points, 7.9 Assists, 47 Field Goal Percentage, 7.9 Free-Throw Attempts
Understanding when to pump the brakes, when to push full throttle, and when to capitalize on (or stifle) momentum is the backbone of any elite point guard.
Not only should the All-Star selection drum continue to be beaten, but the floor general has firmly entrenched himself into any MVP dialogue.
With his win shares (5.4) and win shares per 48 minutes (.234) resting in the seventh and eighth overall slots respectively; accompanied by a rising PER, currently locked at a crisp 24.4 (ninth overall) level, the advanced metrics don’t interfere with the cause.
And the higher-ups once deemed his Villanova backcourt mate, Randy Foye, as the player with more potential — for shame!
Which now leads us the party crash: hey, every fiesta needs a designated driver. Don’t fret Toronto, this will be relatively quick and painless; not too many cracks in the armor exist.
New Year’s Resolutions:
It doesn’t take a call to the Special Investigations Unit to witness a new and improved Jonas Valanciunas. A true shooting percentage of .604 (14th overall) and a total rebound percentage of 19.1 (11th overall) has “Big Science” squarely on the map.
On the other hand, a waiting game still persists. A smoother, less-awkward JV has arrived, but still needs to enrol in a physicality crash-course. He’s thrown his weight around in flashes — the consistency of that mentality is the next step in his development.
Dwane Casey: What could possibly be suggested for the inevitable coach of the year contender? …
Well, a tweak in his allocation of minutes is an idea. Yanking JV in and out of the lineup worked wonders at sending a message. However, a bump in the peculiar six minutes of fourth-quarter action given to veteran James Johnson against Portland could have reaped plenty of benefits.
Nitpicking? … Yes, but every straw counts; at the very least, its something to keep an eye on moving forward.
Will a move to aid the frontline be made? … The in-the-paint rankings of 27th and 20th in respect to points and rebounds leans to the side of a few chips falling.
Whether it’s a depth acquisition or taking a piece out of the solid nucleus in place to benefit an area more in need, remains to be seen — one thing is becoming apparent, in its current form, the troops up front are short on numbers.
The night is now winding down; cabbies have been called, and the Advil is ready for the morning. Every party does need one last touch of nostalgia, though — after 20 years, how about a flashback to this organization’s first ever bucket:
Alvin Robertson, for three! …
Happy New Year!