SDH's 2013/2014 NBA Worst to First Previews and Predictions: 11. Toronto Raptors

+Toronto Raptors  Overall Win/Loss Record :  34-48  tied fourth place Atlantic Division	Last Season’s Rank 18	Projected 2013/2014 Finish 11
Last season’s Team Statistics and League Rank Points Scored:  97.2 (16th) Points Allowed: 98.7 (17th) Team FG%: .446  (20th) Opponent’s FG%: .458 (18th) Team FT%: .788 (5th) Team Three Point FG%: .343 (26th) Rebounds per game: 40.2 (28th) Opponents rebounds per game: 41.7 (13th) Turnovers per game: 13.2 (5th) Opponents turnovers per game: 13.7 (20th)	Returning Individual Statistical Leaders Scoring (ppg): +Rudy Gay  (18.2) Rebounds per game: Amir Johnson (7.5) Minutes per game: +Demar Derozan  (36.7) Assists per game: Kyle Lowry (6.4) Field Goal Percentage: Jonas Valunciunas (.557) Free Throw Percentage:  Demar DeRozan (.830) Three Point FG Percentage: Kyle Lowry (.362) Steals per game: Rudy Gay (1.5) Blocked Shots per game:  Amir Johnson (1.4)
Projected Starters Based on Talent, Tenure, and Potential Impact: C. Jonas Valunciunas PF. Amir Johnson SF. Rudy Gay SG. DeMar DeRozan PG. Kyle Lowry	Second Unit Roster Order Ranked on Talent, Tenure, and Potential Impact: F. +Tyler Hansbrough  G/F. Landry Fields G/F. Terrence Ross F. Steve Novak G. DJ Augustin
Analysis: For the first time in what can be considered as an eternity, the Toronto Raptors finally have a team that can not only make the playoff, but also some major noise in the Eastern Conference come opening tip off.  Not only do they have the talent and the depth to hold their own in the East, but the Raps also have someone that they have lacked since the departure of Vince Carter--a versatile go to player who the team can count on to come through for them in the clutch.  Rudy Gay has always been undervalued as a player since he never earned an +NBA All Star nod despite leading his former team, the +Memphis Grizzlies, to two straight playoff appearances before being traded to Toronto.  Now he brings to the Raptors the leadership and winning attitude to a team that has been doing its best to foster and a player who teammates can rally around when the game is on the line.  Upon arriving to the Great White North, Rudy Gay led the Raptors to a respectable 18-17 after the team started the season 16-31 reaching within four games of the final playoff spot in the East and with him playing a whole season, Toronto will certainly look to build from that exceptional finish. The addition of a player of Gay's talent and caliber has turned a team like the Raptors that sported inexperienced and low self esteem players into a deeper a more talented group with the confidence to take on anyone in the league.  Gay's arrival certainly aided Demar DeRozan who had to shoulder the burden of scoring a bulk of the team's points last season and despite his best efforts, was not able to carry the Raptors where they needed to be. Thanks to Rudy, Demar not only does not have to shoulder the burden alone offensively, but he will have more space to operate on the floor where he can concentrate on what he does best for the team--attack the basket and get to the free throw line.  Before DeRozan was forced to do things that were outside of his abilities such as shooting outside of his range thus causing both his efficiency and his effectiveness on the offensive end.  Now that is no longer the case with Gay being not only capable, but more than ready to take those long range shots allowing DeRozan to focus on his strengths of penetrating to the basket and putting him string numbers in doing so. Along with the scoring combination of Gay and Derozan, the Raptors have also complemented their perimeter assault with a rugged front court of Amir Johnson and Jonas Valunciunas along with the tenacious perimeter defense and grit in pointy guard Kyle Lowry thus give Toronto a starting five that can rival any in the league. Amir Johnson certainly took advantage of the opportunities given to him last season when fan favorite Ed Davis was shipped off to Memphis in the Rudy Gay trade as all his number bumped up to career highs of ten Points, eight rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game in under 30 minutes of playing time.  Over the last couple of years, Raptors fans questioned whether Amir Johnson had what it took to be a long term solution for the team in the front court, but after his solid performance last season, any doubt that anyone may have had has been completely silenced.  Johnson gives the Raptors that blue collar gritty kind of player who runs the floor, does the dirty work in the paint rebounding and grabbing loose balls, while providing a solid outlet option for the occasional open mid range jump shot.  Partnered with Johnson's aggressive and active play is a young big man who despite missing a quarter of the regular season, showed plenty of promise last season and could have the potential to have a breakout season after a solid rookie campaign. He may not have taken the league by storm, but Jonas Valunciunas had a solid rookie season nonetheless averaging nine points, six rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game in 24 minutes of playing along with shooting at a very high efficient rate of .557 from the field. Add an impressive stint in the Summer League where he earned MVP honors and a superstar like performance in the +FIBA Eurobasket tournament, expectations will be very high for this young Lithuanian center that was selected fifth overall in the 2011 NBA Draft.  If he manages to stay healthy and play more than the 62 games that he did last season, Jonas combined with the blue collar grit and hustle of Amir Johnson, the scoring prowess of Rudy gay and Demar Derozan, and the overall solid point guard play of Kyle Lowry will give the Raptors a starting five that can rival any in the NBA.  Add the off season additions of bruiser in the paint, Tyler Hansborough, sharpshooting big man Steve Novak, and the diminutive yet durable DJ Augustin, with a bench that consists of Lanrdry Fields and Terrence Ross, Toronto may possibly have one of the league's deepest and most talented rosters that will definitely have folks shifting their attention North of the border. If there is a potential chink in the Raptors new found arsenal, it would have to be the play of their tabbed starting point guard Kyle Lowry, whose play last season failed to live up to the grand expectations of Toronto fans.  Last season Lowry struggled offensively averaged just under twelve points per game and shot a woeful .401 from the field; nonetheless, he did manage to be a rather impressive rebounder for a player his size grabbing nearly five per game, while dishing out a respectful six assists per game and more than a steal per game.  The hope is that with him now tabbed as the team's primary facilitator and with his contract expiring at the end of the season, Lowry will elevate his game from his less than stellar performance from last season and give a performance similar to the one he game in Houston where he average 14 points 6 boards and 7 assists.  Combined with all the previously mentioned weapons, coach Dwane Casey will certainly have an equally strong offensive attack to complement his defense first philosophy giving raptors fans something that they have long awaited for and deserve--a sense of hope for the future.  Expect this team to be in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race winning at least 45 to 47 games and possible fifth or sixth place finish for this season and if they manage to retain Gay, whose contract will expire at season's end, it will be the first of numerous more playoff appearances for this team that has pent much of its history left out in the cold.