10-2 so far in January, 30-15 overall for the season. Top 10 in both points scored and allowed. Top 10 in both field goal percentage and opponents field goal percentage. Top 5 in fourth quarter defence. Top three scoring backcourt. Second place in the Eastern Conference and only 2 games back of the Cleveland Cavaliers. One two-time All Star, with potentially one more to be announced tomorrow evening.
Are these the makings of an elite team?
These Toronto Raptors, who have teased us with 48 and 49 wins in the previous two seasons…
These same Toronto Raptors, who have tasted bitter defeat after bitter defeat in the post season in the same 2 years…
These same Toronto Raptors, who have been led the last two years by players labeled as misfits and underachievers…
Are they ready to take the next step?
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Remember way back in November when I was talking about guarded optimism? The fan in me is both excited, yet cautious. We’ve been here before. The Raptors play well until All-Star Weekend, then they fall back down to earth… Hard! Yet there is something different about these Toronto Raptors compared to teams in prior years. Something that they’ve lacked in years past.
They might finally have found… “IT“.
That same “IT” that Paul Pierce said that the Toronto Raptors didn’t have right before his former team, the Washington Wizards swept them out of the playoffs last season. That same “IT” that makes teams like the San Antonio Spurs and Golden State Warriors so feared.
The Toronto Raptors may have finally found “IT“. The Toronto Raptors may have finally found their killer instinct.
Tired of the negative stigma that comes with playing north of the border, Canada’s lone NBA franchise is forcing teams to respect them. It’s not like the 2013-14 season, when a then-upstart Raptors ball club shocked the NBA world and went from tanker to contender with one well-timed trade and a stout, yet inexperienced. core unit and defense. And it’s definitely not like the 2014-15 season that saw the same Toronto Raptors traded their defense for offense and turned a white-hot start into a late season collapse, culminating in a 4-game sweep by the aforementioned Wizards.
These Toronto Raptors have found a balance between both offense and defense, able to take down teams either. They are by no means perfect, and Masai Ujiri will have to make a move if this team is to truly take the next step (more on that later).
For now, guarded optimism reigns supreme. These Toronto Raptors may not be 100 percent elite, but they can see it from where they are right now. And the view is very good from here.
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All stats are provided by Basketball-Reference.com unless otherwise stated. Matthew Allman is a staff writer for Raptors Rapture. For more coverage on the Toronto Raptors, follow Matthew on Twitter @ShadowRapsFan and also follow @RaptorsRapture for the latest in Raptors news.