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Toronto Raptors: 5 reasons to be excited for 2018-19 NBA season

By Jonathan Turco

TORONTO, ON- SEPTEMBER 24 - Masai Ujiri poses with new Toronto Raptors Kawhi Leonard (2) and Danny Green (14) as the Toronto Raptors host their media day before going to Vancouver for their training camp. Media Day was held at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. September 24, 2018. (Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON- SEPTEMBER 24 - Masai Ujiri poses with new Toronto Raptors Kawhi Leonard (2) and Danny Green (14) as the Toronto Raptors host their media day before going to Vancouver for their training camp. Media Day was held at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. September 24, 2018. (Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images) /
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Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images
Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images /

1. Top offensive and defensive team

Last year, the Toronto Raptors ranked top-five in both defensive and offensive rating. This year, expect them to make a run at being top-three in both categories.

Even with the loss of their best offensive producer in DeMar DeRozan, they replace him with a better overall offensive game in Kawhi Leonard, and added more spacing opportunities with sharpshooter, Danny Green, who has shot over 40 percent from 3 over his career. Both of them alongside Kyle Lowry, Fred VanVleet and C.J. Miles have a combined 3-point percentage over 40. Talk about small-ball potential with deadly sharpshooting capabilities! Toronto has the potential to be one of the top league leaders in 3s made.

On paper, the Raptors could very well already be the NBA’s most dominant defensive squad too. The Boston Celtics or Utah Jazz will have something to say about that, but here is the case why Toronto could be: It can produce one of the largest, longest and most active lineup among all competitors. This defensive prowess lineup features Delon Wright (6’5″), Danny Green (6’6″), Kawhi Leonard (6’7″), OG Anunoby (6’8″), and one of Pascal Siakam (6’9″) or Serge Ibaka (6’10”).

In this lineup, we have one of the best defensive players in the league in Leonard; more than capable, lanky defenders in Anunoby and Wright; former All-Defensive Team and elite perimeter defender, Green; Serge “I-Block-a” Ibaka, or the motor phenom, Pascal Siakam. This lineup doesn’t even feature two of the Raptors’ great on-ball and perimeter defenders, Lowry and VanVleet.

Nick Nurse’s free-flowing offense will be even more featured after the success from last year’s Bench Mob. Look to see the Raptors to be in top categories for pace, 3-point shooting (makes and attempts) and offensive rating. Add in a top-three defensive rating and the Raptors can make the case to being the team to come out on top of the East.

dark. Next. 10 bold predictions for 2018-19 NBA season

Building on the success of last year, the Toronto Raptors will be a very exciting squad to watch this year.

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