Toronto Raptors: 3 takeaways from 2017-18 season opener

The Toronto Raptors started off the 2017-18 season with a 17-point win over the rebuilding Chicago Bulls.

The Toronto Raptors have been one of the stronger teams in the Eastern Conference for a while now. They have won at least 45 games in four straight years, and but always have the issue of running into the Eastern Conference buzzsaw that is LeBron James.

Now the Raptors are reloaded, with a nice group of role players surrounding the usual core of DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry. The organization clearly believes that they can contend for a championship.

Serge Ibaka received a contract renewal of three-years, $65 million. Lowry received a three-year deal worth $100 million. Toronto management showed that they have faith in this roster to get over the hump and into the NBA Finals.

Obviously, getting to the NBA Finals means beating the LeBron James and the Cavaliers, and that will mean all of Toronto’s role players playing at their best in addition to DeRozan and Lowry. 

Newly acquired C.J. Miles and K.J. McDaniels are going to be counted on to help Toronto guard elites wings and space the floor. The Raptors search for the perfect “3-and-D” guy continues, but there is also hope that Norman Powell will take yet another step in his development this year,  helping shore up both areas.

Raptors fans were treated to an early season win in which the Raptors dismantled a Bulls team that was extremely thin in the frontcourt. Here’s a look at the main takeaways from the Raptors first win of the season.