By Otto Rachaele
October 24th 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
They made one of the biggest moves in the off-season a year ago, trading away a franchise favorite for a shot at the title. Already one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference, the Toronto Raptors shocked many by swapping DeMar DeRozen for Kawhi Leonard. Unless you were living under a rock, you know how the story played out. Chances are you also know that Leonard, who was named Finals MVP, returned home to LA to play for his home town Clippers. So where does that leave the Raptors in defense of their first ever NBA Championship?
The members of the NBA Championship team were given their 2019 rings. Biggest most expensive sports ring ever created. Each player got a ring with their name and number on it.
For the previous two championships, it had been heavily assumed that the defending champion Golden State Warriors would once again repeat as champions, however, such is not the case with the Raptors this season. In fact, they are not even favored to represent the Eastern Conference in the 2020 Finals. Oddshark.com has the Raptors at +3300, with four other teams from their conference ranked ahead, including the Brooklyn Nets who are without Kevin Durant.
The Milwaukee Bucks are favored to win the Eastern Conference, with the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics rounding out the teams with the best chance to represent in the NBA Finals.
With Leonard and DeRozen over on the West Coast, the Raptors are once again in search of a player who can be the face of the franchise. A five time All-Star and the longest tenured active player, Kyle Lowry can still be a solid starter for the Raptors but may no longer be considered one of the team’s go to players. That title will most likely be passed 2019 NBA Most Improved Player, Pascal Siakam. As their second best scorer and rebounder last season, Siakam has doubled his scoring in each of his three seasons and should be capable of averaging at least twenty points a night this season.
As for the rest of the starting five, Coach Nick Nurse may juggle time between Norman Powell, OG Anunoby, Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka.
Fred VanVleet proved, during the Raptors championship run, that he was capable of playing big minutes and hitting big shots.
Among the second wave of players coming off the bench, Fred VanVleet proved, during the Raptors championship run, that he was capable of playing big minutes and hitting big shots. While new additions Stanley Johnson, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson will add to the depth, they weren’t the blockbuster additions that other teams made during free agency. If Toronto hopes to remain competitive this season, they will need players like Patrick McCaw, Chris Boucher and Cameron Payne to step up and play valuable minutes.
At 32-9 last season, the Toronto Raptors were tied for the third best home record in the league something that will not only come into play again this season for visiting teams, but also for oddsmakers and NBA bettors.
As with many professional sports the variety of betting options for professional basketball has plentiful picks and parlays to choose from. The most popular NBA betting options are point spreads and over/under. Last season, the Raptors covered the spread in 48% of their games and should you have taken the over, you would have come ahead 52% of the time.
Masai Ujiri did what he had to do to bring a NBA Championship to Toronto. He took a chance and was rewarded for doing so.
GM Masai Ujiri did what he had to do to bring a NBA Championship to Toronto. He took a chance and was rewarded for doing so. Unfortunately now the bar is set much higher and the reality is, the current makeup of the team is not capable of reaching that bar, at least not at this point. With all of the big name players holding contracts that will expire next summer, the refurbishing of the lineup may begin sooner than later if the team struggles.
Don’t be surprised to see the Raptors continue their playoff streak to eight years, but don’t expect Jurassic Park to be open in June. Will the Raptors get a second Championship ring?
Otto Rachaele is a dedicated sports fan, more of a Raptors fan actually who understands the Gaming business. He is located in Burlington and gets into Toronto for every Raptors game.
