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Toronto Raptors: 3 x-factors for the team to succeed in NBA’s Orlando restart

By Luke Duffy

TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 25: Singer Drake high fives Matt Thomas #21 of the Toronto Raptors during the first half of an NBA game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Scotiabank Arena on February 25, 2020 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 25: Singer Drake high fives Matt Thomas #21 of the Toronto Raptors during the first half of an NBA game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Scotiabank Arena on February 25, 2020 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /
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Toronto Raptors
Toronto Raptors (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

1. Continuity

For the bulk of this roster, they have not only been here before, but they have been here together and gone all the way to win a championship. That is something that no other team in the Eastern Conference right now can say. The Bucks might be better because they have a roster that fits really well around reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, but they haven’t yet reached the summit.

The Philadelphia 76ers have two superstars in Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons that many have long questioned if the fit is right between the two. They are also yet to have any real playoff success themselves. The Celtics have plenty of talent, but point guard Kemba Walker hasn’t played with the kind of expectations that he now faces at any point in his career.

He is also a different type of floor general to Kyrie Irving, and it will be his first time attempting to navigate what the organization will hope is a deep playoff run. The Heat have an interesting group and somebody in Jimmy Butler who is always desperate to win, but they too are a new collection of mostly young players who have yet to do anything significant together.

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Which keeps bringing us back to the Raptors. They have the experience, but also the blend of youth with Siakam and Anunoby. They’ve been here before, and they’ve been here together. They even beat Giannis and the Bucks last season, and although they had more help on that occasion, head coach Nick Nurse can at least point to the fact that they’ve done it before.

Lowry, Gasol and Ibaka, in particular, don’t have too many goes left at playing at a high level and being an integral player in the playoffs, and it is unclear how much longer that nucleus will be kept together for anyway. With so many people overlooking them, and with a level of continuity throughout the roster and coaching staff that has them knowing exactly who they are, the Conference Finals are within reach for them. They’ve got plenty of x-factors to get them there.

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