Raptors launch title defense with little respect, few expectations
By Phil Watson
Best-case scenario
The Toronto Raptors aren’t expected to successfully defend their NBA title, but in a perfect world they will make a whale of an effort to do so.
With Kyle Lowry’s thumb healed, his shooting touch returns after it fell to 41.1 percent overall and 34.7 percent from 3-point range last season.
The added scoring touch comes in handy as Pascal Siakam adjusts to being the opponents’ No. 1 priority at the defensive end. A full season of Marc Gasol’s playmaking from the high post helps as well and the Raptors surprise the Eastern Conference with a 53-win season and a third-place finish behind the Bucks and 76ers.
After getting through the first round, Toronto stuns Philadelphia in a second-round upset before the Milwaukee gets its revenge in the Eastern Conference Finals rematch.
Siakam makes the All-Star Game, as does Lowry, and Nick Nurse gets a lot of Coach of the Year votes.
Worst-case scenario
Last season’s dip wasn’t an anomaly for Kyle Lowry. Rather, it was the start of his descent from the ranks of the league’s elite point guards as Father Time — still unbeaten — takes its toll in Lowry’s 14th season.
Pascal Siakam has a solid season, but can’t follow up last season’s breakout performance with a star turn. Tougher defensive matchups slow down Siakam and there isn’t enough scoring depth around him to put enough points on the board.
After the New Year, with the Raptors struggling to stay above the .500 mark, the front office puts the “For Sale” sign outside ScotiaBank Arena and the rebuild begins in earnest, with the club looking to move the expiring contracts of Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka and entertaining offers on Lowry as well.
The Raptors continue to slide and miss the postseason — the first defending champion to do so since the Chicago Bulls in 1998-99 and just the third team in history to gain the dubious distinction.