2012-13 NBA Sleepers: Toronto Raptors

(left: Landry Fields, Genreral Manager Bryan Colangelo and Kyle Lowry)

1. Toronto Raptors (Atlantic Divison)

Divisions Rivals: Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks and Philidelphia 76ers

Nope, that’s not a typo and I am not going crazy. I truly believe the Toronto Raptors are the number one sleepers for the 2012-13 NBA season, a team that ended in the 11^th spot of the Eastern Conference with a 23-43 record. General Manager Bryan Colangelo has openly admitted to the team being in a rebuilding phase over the past few years, a rebuilding phase, which I believe, is as complete as it’s going to get short of an established superstar joining the roster.  If the Raptors can’t make the post season this year I’m not sure what more they can do, however I think of all 7 teams that missed the playoffs in the Eastern Conference, Toronto, Brooklyn and Milwaukee have the best chance of making it this time around.

Hopes have been resting on the shoulders of the 7’0ft Andrea Bargnani as they often do with all 1^st overall picks, and ever since draft day and even before Chris Bosh left for the Miami Heat, a lot was expected of him. Scoring for Bargnani has never been a problem with him averaging a little under 20 points per game, it has been his rebounding which has often come under fire, as well as his ability to take over games late in the 4^th quarter. The good sign is that he has improved statistically every year, which lends itself to optimism.

DeMar Derozan is another high draft pick from 2009 who went 9^th overall and who also has a lot pressure from high expectations. Slowly coming into his own over the last 3 years, he has shown signs that he can in fact lead this team, although his reserved and humble character may make that difficult. It’s still worth noting that he averages 16.7 points per game shooting 45% while having to guard and be guarded by the best players in the league at the Small Forward and Shooting Guard positions.

Former Houston Rocket Kyle Lowry (14 ppg and 6 ast), former New York Knick Landry Fields (8 ppg shooting 48%) and Lithuanian hopeful Jonas Valanciunas whose overseas performance to date has been outstanding, are all going to play a major part of this teams resurgence. Add to that Point Guard Jose Calderon’s 10 ppg and 8 assists per game, Ed Davis and a healthy Linas Kleiza, the Raptors are a team that can and should move the ball often to allow sharp shooters an opportunity to score or the big men to score down low in the paint. Although their reliance on mid range jump shots and three pointers have been the reason for their wins as well as most of their losses, the hope is that with Jonas on the inside, the ball will be scored a lot more from inside the paint as much as it will be from the outside.

I did consider having Minnesota at the number one spot, but with two of their starters and primary options, Ricky Rubio and Brandon Roy both experiencing recent season ending injuries, I chose the Raptors for the top spot. They may not have had much luck in the wins columns over the past few years, but they have definitely been able to avoid the injury bug compared to other teams, which I think will give them an advantage and a chance at making the post season.