The 2014-2015 NBA season is still young. With nearly a quarter of games played, there are a number of exciting developments this year. The 13-4 Toronto Raptors are perhaps one of the biggest, at this point. The group looks like it is poised to continue building on its 48-win season last year and walk away with its first pair of back-to-back winning seasons in more than 10 years.
The Raptors have struggled in more ways than one in recent years. To see them in such a prime position, with what seems to be the foundation to stay there, is still surprising for many fans and media members alike.
Shaun Powell of NBA.com presented a number of interesting reasons as to why this team has risen to the top and can stay there: “As you watch their chemistry, which is unusually firm for such a young team, and the continued bulldog mentality of Kyle Lowry and a bench that's longer than a night at a Sixers game, there's the temptation to love the Raptors' long-term chance of Eastern rule.”
The Raptors are off to a strong start behind performances at both ends of the court. After their defeat at the hands of the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday, they are now ranked No. 2 in the league in scoring with 108.5 points per game and No. 14 in points allowed as they gave up 98.9 points per outing, per ESPN.
Much of their success is attributed to their backcourt duo of DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry. As their continued performances started to gain the attention of the league, the team has suffered a serious setback. DeRozan suffered a torn left adductor longus tendon and will be out an indefinite period of time, per the team's official Twitter account (h/t Jesus Gomez of SB Nation).
The Raptor's will miss out on his scoring ability and the 19.4 points he brought in through 16 games this year. Greivis Vasquez and Lou Williams are two veterans that will have to step in to fill the void left by DeRozan as he recovers.
With a bench anchored by players such as Vasquez and Williams, the team seems to be in a position to stay among the best in the Eastern Conference; however, it will have to make it through the time without DeRozan.
The Raptors will have the benefit of an “easy” schedule through the first part of December. In their next 11 games, they will only play two teams that have winning records at this point in the year in the Sacramento Kings and the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Denver Nuggets sit at 8-8, and all of the other teams are below .500 at this time.
This is the perfect type of stretch that this unit can use to take advantage of its star player's injury while building chemistry during his absence.
DeRozan's injury is a blow to the surprise Raptors. As if the story of their sudden rise was not already worth watching, missing their best player will make the next few weeks of play even more important. If they can continue to put together wins, then they will finally receive the credit of being a team worth watching as the season continues.
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