The Toronto Raptors defied even the highest of expectations. What has stuck out during this fast-start? Here are my 6ix takes.
The Toronto Raptors, since their 1995 beginnings, have never been this good. These Nick Nurse-led Raptors are “next level” dangerous.
Even as Kawhi Leonard plays, then sits, then plays, and then sits again, continuing to ease his way back into the rigours of an 82-game grind, the Toronto Raptors haven’t missed a beat.
The Celtics look good, but not great. The Sixers can’t shoot, and as good as the Bucks have been in the early going, I still am confident a healthy Raptors squad takes them down.
As for how they stack up against the perennial favourite Golden State Warriors, that remains to be seen. The two are set to play Nov. 29 and that game should, at the very least, give everybody an idea of where these Raptors stand. Toronto has played the Bay Area bullies tough the past several seasons and, as we know, things have changed drastically since their last encounter…
In Leonard, the Raptors possess the precise individual who, back in 2017, was single-handedly shredding the Warriors in a playoff forum….until this happened.
Back healthy, Kawhi Leonard, along with a rejuvenated Kyle Lowry and perpetually improving roster including the likes of Serge Ibaka, Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby, Pascal Siakam, and many more, have the Toronto Raptors in a position to, for the first time in the franchise’s history, make a realistic run at an NBA championship.
That and more in the first edition of 6ix Takes.