The Raptors are excellent since of Kyle Lowry, the stalwart, Mr. Raptor, perhaps the biggest gamer in franchise history and the tone setter for this group. A competitive fire still burns inside Lowry, the same flame that pressed him past the blacktops in North Philadelphia to Villanova, to the NBA, to an ultimate NBA champion.
Prior to the season, Nurse met with Lowry. Lowry has responded by increasing his scoring average 6 points, ticking his three-point percentage up to 36% this season.
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla.– The scene was different, virtual fans changing genuine ones, the silence of a near-empty arena broken only by hip hop music and digital crowd sound pumped through hanging speakers. For Masai Ujiri, it all felt familiar..
A year back, in Las Vegas, Ujiri urged Raptors fans not to panic. “Dont lose one 2nd of sleep,” stated Ujiri, simply days after Kawhi Leonard packed his bags for Los Angeles. “Were going to be just fine.” Now here was Ujiri, the Raptors president, a few feet from the NBA branded flooring, in a hooded sweatshirt viewing Toronto batter Orlando, its likely first-round challenger.
For the Raptors, a win, and a 3-0 reboot.
For Ujiri, maybe, further vindication.
History isnt kind to NBA teams that lose superstars. Oklahoma City made the playoffs a year after Kevin Durant left, however that took a history-making season from Russell Westbrook and ended with a quick first-round exit.
Toronto wont be first-round fodder for anyone, and really– how did that happen? Leonard was an All-Star, a top-five talent, the ruling Finals MVP. And after beating the Magic, Torontos winning percentage (.731) stands as the best in franchise history.
There is no voodoo to the Raptors success, obvious sauce. Probe for one and you are met a string of blank stares and collective shrugs, as if you are the crazy one for believing they should not be here.
“Its excellent bar talk. We understand were not simple to beat. We have a lot of tools, a lot of fantastic gamers and, to me, the best training staff in the NBA.”.
The Raptors are good due to the fact that they have Pascal Siakam, the ruling Most Improved Player and 2019 playoffs breakout star, who has actually ratcheted his game to yet another level. Colleagues explain Siakam as a workaholic, driven to be great, empowered by head coach Nick Nurse to be the playmaker few saw when Siakam was a small center at New Mexico State.
Defense has keyed Torontos success, and VanVleet has actually emerged as an integral part of it. Inside the Raptors locker space, everybody knows: If you do not safeguard, you dont play.
” You look bad when you do not play defense,” stated VanVleet. “You stand out like an aching thumb … you do not wish to be that guy.”.
Ujiri saw this skill, this training staff and any thought of tearing the team down was short lived, at best. For months, the Raptors were peppered with trade calls, with rivals penetrating if Gasol, Serge Ibaka, even Lowry were available. First-round choices are important, sure, however the Raptors think they can discover talent anywhere.
The Raptors have stomped the Lakers, lasted longer than the Heat and put a 10-point loss on Orlando. Milwaukee will go into the postseason as the conference preferred, however the Raptors have actually beaten the Bucks before and have the size to body up with them.
” Were a no-excuse team,” Gasol said. You go out there and you contend and you can beat any person. Its really tough, and its a different year, undoubtedly, but on any offered night we can be one of the good groups.”.
Here comes Toronto, impossibly, improbably determined to defend its title from the beginning, equipped with the workers and self-confidence now to do it. The four-month hiatus healed lingering injuries, handing Nurse the deepest, most gifted roster hes had all season.
Minutes after beating Orlando, Ibaka emerged from the Raptors makeshift locker room, beelining up the stairs to the weight space, distressed to squeeze in 15 minutes on the one treadmill offered prior to the last bus took out. Behind him, Stanley Johnson, eager to do the same.
” You played 25 minutes, Serge,” Johnson said. “Let me get on first.”.
” Five minutes,” Ibaka replied, prior to disappearing up the steps.
For Ibaka, for Toronto, the work has simply begun..
A year earlier, in Las Vegas, Ujiri urged Raptors fans not to panic. Now here was Ujiri, the Raptors president, a few feet from the NBA branded floor, in a hooded sweatshirt enjoying Toronto batter Orlando, its most likely first-round opponent.
The Raptors are excellent since they have Pascal Siakam, the ruling Most Improved Player and 2019 playoffs breakout star, who has ratcheted his video game to yet another level. The Raptors are great due to the fact that of Kyle Lowry, the stalwart, Mr. Raptor, arguably the greatest gamer in franchise history and the tone setter for this group. For months, the Raptors were peppered with trade calls, with competitors penetrating if Gasol, Serge Ibaka, even Lowry were readily available.
