The NBA regular season has officially come to an end. The Toronto Raptors finished the year as the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference with a 46-36 record.
As the Raptors prepare for their first round matchup against the Cavaliers this Saturday, let’s take a look back at what this team accomplished this season.
Exceeded everyone’s expectations
Most preseason predictions had Toronto winning between 35 and 39 games. That was in line with my own expectations. I thought fighting for a spot in the play-in tournament was the most realistic outcome. I am happy to be wrong.
Toronto blew those expectations out of the water. With 46 wins, the Raptors had their 11th most wins in a season in franchise history. This was a true breakout year for this core.
Toronto’s stars led the way
Scottie Barnes, Toronto’s franchise icon, put together an incredible season. He was selected to the All-Star Game for the second time in his career and posted career highs in total points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, field goal percentage, and free throw percentage. He is also likely to make First-Team All-Defense. What a season.
Brandon Ingram also had a great year. He led the team in scoring and earned his second career All-Star selection, marking the seventh time Toronto has had two All-Stars in the same season.
Ingram’s most valuable achievement this year was his availability. He played in 77 games, the most since his rookie season.
The rest of the roster fit around the stars
Toronto’s supporting cast played a major role in this success. Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett took on smaller roles after Ingram joined the team, but both adapted well.
Quickley made the most of fewer on-ball opportunities, posting career highs in efficiency metrics like win shares per 48 minutes and box plus-minus. Barrett, in a similar way, delivered one of the most efficient seasons of his career.
What should excite Toronto the most is the development of their young players. Collin Murray-Boyles and Ja’Kobe Walter look like long-term fixtures on this roster. Murray-Boyles flashed star potential, especially on the defensive end, while Walter’s shooting and perimeter defense are valuable tools for any team.
This season meant something
This season was not perfect, but it was a massive step forward. This core proved it can win at a higher level than anyone expected. All of their key players are under contract for multiple seasons, with the exception of RJ Barrett.
Regardless of what happens in the playoffs, Raptors fans should feel good about where this team is headed. The foundation is already in place, and it is only getting better. But for now, the focus shifts to Cleveland.
Let's go Raptors!