Toronto Raptors roundtable: Offensive, defensive rank and breakout players
Who is the Raptors biggest challenger in the East other than BOS & PHI?
Gavin Axelrod:
Do not sleep on the Indiana Pacers. After falling to the LeBron James lead Cavaliers in seven games this past April, Victor Oladipo and company are hungrier than ever. With the East more wide open than ever before, do not be surprised to see the Pacers compete atop the standings.
If Oladipo can play the way he did last year there is nothing this team cannot accomplish. Also, Myles Turner is a popular breakout candidate and Domantas Sabonis has developed nicely as a core piece for the team.
Picking Indiana to compete with the likes of Toronto, Boston, and Philadelphia may raise some eyebrows, however, the Pacers are better than most people think.
Mark Birdsell:
Other than the obvious choices, the Raptors’ biggest challenger this season will be the Milwaukee Bucks.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is a beast. He is 6-foot-11 with a 7-foot-3 wingspan. Antetokounmpo has transformed into a point-forward. Last season he averaged 26.9 points, 10 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.4 blocks per game. Antetokounmpo is only 23 years old and looks the part of a perennial MVP candidate.
The Bucks also have a strong supporting cast headlined by Khris Middleton and Eric Bledsoe. They brought in Mike Budeholzer to replace Jason Kidd. Budeholzer was the 2015 NBA Coach of the Year with the Atlanta Hawks. He is a good tactician and is known for getting the most out of his players. The Bucks disappointed last season but should finish in the top four in the East this year.
Rizzla:
While the Indiana Pacers may be the popular answer here. The Washington Wizards will instead be our biggest challenger aside from the Sixers and Celtics.
The addition of a more athletic big man to a team that underachieved last season is a scary proposition.
Dwight Howard is a well-known ‘Raptor Killer’ and this is not a team I would want to be trotting out small ball lineups against, especially when it comes to the playoffs.
The additions of the aforementioned Dwight Howard, Jeff Green and Austin Rivers give the Wizards the depth they need to survive the marathon known as the regular season and thrive in the playoffs.
Next. Five takeaways from the preseason. dark
Make sure to check out part two of the Raptors Roundtable on Wednesday when we discuss Nick Nurse’s impact, the Raptors regular season record, and more.