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Happy New Year: Highlights and Lowlights from the Toronto Raptors in 2014 (Part 1)

By Kevin Nimmock

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Longtime fans of the Toronto Raptors will note just how positive 2014 has been. The team has gone 58-26 this year (between Jan. 1st 2014 and today), with a chance to add a 59th win tonight against the Portland Trail Blazers. That’s huge for a team that went 37-43 the year prior. A lot has changed for Canada’s lone NBA franchise, as they have vaulted up from vying for the 8th spot in the dystopian Eastern Conference to dominating both the Atlantic Division and the East as a whole. New Talent and celebrity representation has been brought to the 416 in the last year, supporting the team’s rise from the league’s basement to its penthouse. However, as with all things in life, it hasn’t been all smiles and lollipops for the Raptors. Let’s look at some of the highlights and lowlights from 2014.

Highlight- Learning to Win as a Team Without Rudy Gay

On Dec. 8, 2013, Raptors GM Masai Ujiri orchestrated a blockbuster trade that moved Rudy Gay, Aaron Gray and Quincy Acy to Sacramento for Greivis Vasquez, Patrick Patterson, Chuck Hayes, and John Salmons. Early on in 2014, coach Dwane Casey and his team learned to win without Rudy Gay, who had previously been their top scorer and all around on-court leader. The team became far better without Gay, who earned 19.4 points per game on 38.8% shooting in the 18 games he played during the 2013/14 season before being traded. Without Gay, the Raptors were a team-first squad who won by committee. DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry quickly upped their performances and became leaders, but they didn’t act like big ego toting stars. Everyone was given the best looks possible on the offensive end, and there was far less hero-ball going on in Toronto.

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Lowlight- Losing against the Nets

Last season, the Raptors finished with a 48-34 record and earned the third seed in the East, which had them face off against the Brooklyn Nets in the first round of the playoffs. The Raptors had only made it to the second round of the playoffs once before (2000/01) and there was a lot of hope that they would be able to continue their impressive 2014 winning record into the the post season. Legendary big man Shaquille O’Neal even said he was positive the Raps would oust the 44-38 Nets. Unfortunately, the youthful Raptors were intimidated and overwhelmed by the much more experienced Nets, who ended up winning in a bitterly disappointing game seven in front of fans at the Air Canada Centre. The Raptors had trouble defensively throughout the series, especially with covering forward Joe Johnson. The team couldn’t really come up with an answer to the physical, crafty Johnson. During game seven, Johnson scored 26 points, which helped sink Toronto’s dreams of a second round playoff birth.

Highlight- Re-signing Kyle Lowry

Dec 12, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) during the first quarter in a game against the Indiana Pacers at Air Canada Centre. The Toronto Raptors won 106-94. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports

Before 2014, there was a long history of not being able to keep stars in Toronto for very long. Chris Bosh and Vince Carter, the two best players in Raptors history, left the Raptors in search of more competitive teams in 2010 and 2004, respectively. Stars wanted to go to bigger markets like Miami, rather than stay in Toronto and enjoy its freezing winters. However, on July 10, 2014, Lowry re-signed with the Raptors, proving the team is finally able to keep big players in the fold. Lowry re-signed for four years, during which time the Raptors will get to grow and develop their younger players, anchored by the consistent play and leadership of Lowry and DeRozan.

This is part one of a two part series, check back tomorrow for more highlights and lowlights. Got some favourite or least favourite Raptors moments of the year? Comment below. 

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