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Toronto Raptors: 5 predictions for the 2018-19 NBA season

By Simon Smith

TORONTO, ON- SEPTEMBER 24 - Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (2) 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 - Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (2) 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 Icon Sportswire)
(Photo by Icon Sportswire) /

4. Danny Green to have a bounce-back season

While he made quite an impact in his eight years with the Spurs, Green’s final season was not one in which he would look back fondly.

Although he competed in 70 regular season games, Green was hampered by injury all year-long. It wasn’t until the end of the season that the full extent of the injury of realised, as Green explains:

"“So end of the season, I had to get a MRI when you get your exit physicals. A strain was still there, a little tear. Since then, I’ve been rehabbing it basically. Now they’re passing that information on to Toronto. “But we don’t know how long I’ve been playing with this strain because we hadn’t really circled back or focused on it because of so many other injuries that were happening throughout the season. A second opinion could’ve helped. “But they did a great job, they did everything they could. But I think it would’ve been nice to see a specialist just to see if there was another angle, another view.”"

To Green’s credit, playing through a groin injury for most of the season was admirable, and is indicative of his team-first approach. However, despite Leonard playing just nine games for the Spurs last season, Green averaged his lowest minutes played since the 2013-14 title run.

At his best, the 6’6″ Green is a hound defensively while also possessing the ability to shoot the ball at a terrific clip, as illustrated by his career 39.5 3-point percentage.

Undoubtedly, the best form of his career came during the 2013 NBA Finals, when Green set a then-record 27 triples in the series, of which 25 came in the first five games.

Recently, Green expressed his excitement at a fresh beginning:

"“Here we are more perimeter-oriented. It’s a lot easier playing and flowing and a lot more freedom. We are looking more for the perimeter shot.”"

So entering the season fully healthy, and with coach Nurse making some tweaks at the offensive end, look for Green to have a bounce-back season at age 31.

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