Are the Raptors for real?

The Raptors are 13-2 there best 15 game start in franchise history.

Teams that start 13-2 are almost always legit. Three did last season -- the Spurs, Trail Blazers and Pacers. One did in 2012-13 -- the Grizzlies. Those four teams averaged 57 wins.

Since trading Rudy Gay Dec. 9, the Raptors are 52-24, 4 ½ games better than the next-best team in the Eastern Conference (the Bulls) during that span.

I find it very amusing at the moment but just take a look at the infamous Hoollinger playoff/championship simulator.

http://espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/playoffodds

Obviously the first thing you'll see about the Raptors is a projected 63-19.
As much as I heart the Raptors I find this extremely unlikely they have never broken the 50 win barrier over 5000 seasons Hoollinger computer is predicting the Raptors to blow the 50 win barrier out of the field and hop into the low 60's.

I've been watching Basket-ball for a long time and the past several years it seems teams have heavily relied on star power for example Kobe would take tough contested shots while Gasol would be wide open. Melo even Lebron would do this still I feel like he hasn't figured his role out with the Cav's yet.

The Spurs are prime example of a team that doesn't pressure there stars to make tough shots they always try to get an open look and that's what's so scary about them you never know who's going to work the offense which leads the other team working 5 times as hard on defense instead of a team like the Knicks where you know Melo will have to be doubled.

Were seeing more and more of this around the league and the Raptors have now have made themselves a prime example of this.

One night it could be Lowry, another Derozan another Jonas, Williams, Ross, the list goes on this is a team that has already had 7 players in double digit figures 3 times that's the definition of sharing the ball.

Lou Williams already looks to be a candidate for 6th man of the year and was named player of the week.

What obstacles do these young Raptors really face? The Chicago Bulls totally rely on Rose and his health even Noah is not looking like the center he was last season.

The Cav's absolutely lack defense even if this team picks it up offensively which I'm 100% sure they will what's the use scoring 100+ if the opponent is scoring 120+.

The Wizards have never played well against the Raptors it showed already in there first meeting and when you take a look last season the season series Raptors won 3/4 and the one that the Wizards managed to win went to triple over time.

13-2 is not a fluke... they are already 11 games above .500 they have a ridiculous point deferential of 11.2 that means they are winning games by 10+ points ever game! WOW

At this point of the season the Raptors are already on track for 50+ wins in the East that's good enough for either 1st or 2nd but by the way things are playing out right now I would say 1st.

On a side note the Raptors are also 4-0 against the West but Friday they play Dallas we'll see how it goes down.

The one thing that everyone seem's to be fixed on is as good as a season the Raptors have they will never see the Finals because the NBA won't allow it. I highly doubt this theory previous Raptors teams were simply not good enough to make the Finals with the exclusion of the Vince Carter one where he missed the game 7 decider against Philly/Iverson.

The funniest thing about the Hollinger computer simulation is a best-possible record of 77-5 LOOOL this would be a dream come true

If that happened screw the playoff's just give the Raptors the Larry O'Brian trophy and be down with it haha.

 

I think the key to their success if Louis Williams. He really solidifies their bench, a strong bench gives a team great balance. I think his emergence as a reliable scorer is the reason they are beasting and feasting.

 

Man he is averaging 22 points a game on 55% shooting for the last 5 games! Toronto's bench is outscoring there opponents by 30+ a night that's so amazing it takes so much of the starters some times the bench plays better!

 

Exactly people always say defense wins championships and all, but a productive bench is always key. The Spurs had a great bench led by Manu, they were able to rest starters while being confident that the entire flow of the game won't collapse. Having energized starters in the 4th quarter is vital to take control of the game and grabbing that W.

 

Hey, we all live in Toronto? GO RAPTORS!

 

Yes,

WE THE NORTH!

 

Raptors are playing excellent right now. Kyle Lowry looks like an All-Star.
However, Bulls v.s. Thunders in the 2015 NBA Championship is my prediction.

 

yes the raptors are for real.


#WETHENORTHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

 

This is the moment of truth to know which ppl are the bandwagoners or true-fans lmao.

 

I'm a Torontonian myself and I have just decided to ignore my own teams at this point.

Every single time they show a glimmer of hope, they take our support and run it into the ground when it actually counts (this goes for the Leafs as well).

I will always enjoy seeing them win, but I have come to expect nothing from them, same goes for my friends who were die hard leafs fans (we would go out to bars every home game almost, but definitely every single Saturday game in the past).

Barring what I just said, it would be great to see the Raptors go somewhere. That would be the best surprise basketball-wise I will have seen in my whole life.

 

P.S - Stalking my Sythe Torontonians if you're a Raptor bandwagoner!

 

If the Raptors can prove that they are a top defensive team then yes I can see them as a real championship contender. The only problem is that this is still the regular season. We don't know how they'll play in the playoffs, what DeMar DeRozan's return might bring, what team they will go up against (in terms of matchup advantages/disadvantages). At this current pace though, they are absolutely a top team in the East, just not THE top. I think that crown is still up for grabs. It's still early. But I am enjoying the Raptors' play. Kyle Lowry finally found the right niche after years of flashing his potential but never fully realizing it.