The Eastern Conference was supposed to be a two-horse race between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Chicago Bulls. However, a few weeks in and the Cavs are having chemistry issues, have experienced some tough losses and there are already rumors that Kevin Love will opt out at the end of the year. Meanwhile, the Bulls can’t seem to get Derrick Rose in the lineup consistently enough.
If the playoffs started today, the Cavaliers would be the No. 8 seed, the Bulls would be the No. 2 seed and the Toronto Raptors – yes, the Raptors – would be the No. 1 seed. Although things are expected to change by the end of the season, are the Raptors the best team in the East right now? The answer appears to be yes, and here’s why:
Offense Continues To Improve
The talent level is obvious on a team that leads the NBA with an average of 107 points per game this season. The Raptors have a potential All-Star duo in DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry that is complimented by a strong tandem of rising stars in Jonas Valanciunas and Terrence Ross while the addition of Lou Williams has helped fill out the rotation.
Greivis Vasquez and Patrick Patterson have thrived coming off the bench and they have both the talent and work ethic to push the starters, while players like James Johnson and Tyler Hansbrough can enter a game and take care of a lot of the dirty work. Toronto has six different players that are averaging more than 10 points per game led by DeRozan at 21.9 and that balance up front has made them very difficult to defend on a nightly basis.
Team Chemistry
One other factor that has worked in their favor compared to a Cavaliers team that is loaded with superstar talent is the fact that they have developed an incredible level of chemistry together. It all started a year ago when there were rumors that Lowry would be traded to the New York Knicks and they have steadily improved ever since. The impact of Vasquez and Patterson cannot be underestimated as it seems that head coach Dwane Casey and his team is always talking about how the bench pushes the starters with its work ethic and drive. The biggest factor in Toronto’s success relative to Cleveland’s inconsistent start is the chemistry that the Raptors have already developed.
Defense Still A Concern
The one area of weakness that stands out for Toronto is the team’s inconsistent defensive play and in particular the slow starts that nearly cost them in a couple of games. A relatively mediocre schedule is part of the reason the Raptors rank eighth in the NBA with an average of 96.4 points allowed per game, but ultimately they will need to avoid the types of lapses that could cost them come playoff time.
Right now those issues haven’t been enough to slow them down and as long as they keep working and stay healthy they should be able to eliminate that aspect of their game. An explosive offense thanks to solid depth and chemistry has Toronto right up there among the league’s best teams right now and clearly the best team in the East early on.
