Unlikely NBA pacesetters

Before the NBA season started, soothsayers never considered the Toronto Raptors to top the Eastern Conference nor the Golden State Warriors to lead the Western Conference. While it’s still too early to even consider Toronto and Golden State making it to the Finals, their recent performance has been nothing less than remarkable. They’re overachieving and putting title pretenders on notice that odds don’t mean a thing because anything is possible in basketball.

Here were the forecasts of four leading publications last October. Pro Basketball Preview and Fantasy Guide picked Oklahoma City to beat Cleveland in the Finals. Sports Illustrated chose San Antonio over Chicago in the Last Dance. Lindy’s Pro Basketball selected the Bulls to win it all. Slam Magazine predicted Cleveland to defeat San Antonio in the Finals. Nobody thought of Toronto or Golden State.

At the moment, Toronto has a 23-7 record even as star DeMar DeRozan, averaging 19.4 points, is out indefinitely with a torn tendon in the groin-hip area after playing in 16 games. Former Talk ‘N’ Text tactician Bill Bayno is Raptors head coach Dwane Casey’s lead assistant. Aside from DeRozan, four Raptors are averaging in double figure points – Kyle Lowry 20.2, Lou Williams 14.4, Jonas Valanciunas 12.6 and Terrence Ross 12.2. Toronto is No. 2 in the league in offense, averaging 108.2 points (next to Dallas’ 109.4), and least turnovers with 11.8 (next to Charlotte’s 11.2). 

Over the years, Toronto has witnessed an exodus of stars like Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter, Damon Stoudamire, Chris Bosh and Rudy Gay. It didn’t seem like an exciting proposition to play for a team outside of the US until the Toronto fans gave the Raptors a reason to stay. Toronto posted a 48-34 record to top the Atlantic Division last season and came close to ousting Brooklyn in the playoffs, losing Game 7 by a point. Lowry could’ve opted out of Toronto but decided to stick it out with a brand-new, four-year $48 Million deal. Lowry averaged 17.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 7.4 assists last season. With DeRozan out of commission, Lowry’s expected to spike his numbers. Another beneficiary of Toronto’s breakout season was Casey who inked a three-year extension last summer.

No longer the whipping boys of the East, the Raptors are proving they’re far from extinct. Toronto general manager Masai Ujiri, a Nigerian who earns an annual salary of $3 Million and was once NBA Executive of the Year, said the goal is to create a winning platform. “No excuses anymore,” he said. “Players want to win, players want to be treated well.” The turnaway crowds in the playoffs last season were a clear indication that Toronto fans are finally on the bandwagon. Writer Mike McGraw said, “the future could be even better with a young nucleus under contract and plenty of cap space possible in 2105.” 

Sports Illustrated chose Toronto to finish behind Chicago and Cleveland in the East but has high hopes that 7-foot Valanciunas will make major waves even if he collected only three points and five rebounds in that 104-103 Game 7 loss to the Nets in the first round of the playoffs last season. Hakeem Olajuwon and conditioning coach Jim Radcliffe worked on the Lithuanian over the summer. Valanciunas, 22, is now averaging career highs in scoring, rebounding and free throw percentage so it looks like Toronto’s investment is paying off.

As for the Warriors, they were ranked No. 4 in the West by Sports Illustrated and No. 7 by Slam Magazine. First-year coach Steve Kerr took over from Mark Jackson in the offseason and has reengineered the Warriors to play an offense-oriented system. Golden State is No. 3 in the league in average points at 107.4, No. 1 in field goal percentage at .479 and No. 1 in blocked shots at 6.4. Steph Curry and Klay Thompson are averaging a combined 44.4 points. They’re certified sizzlers on the court, firing triples at an amazingly high clip – Thompson at .431 and Curry at .385. Burly Australian center Andrew Bogut is out indefinitely with a right knee issue but the rest of the team is compensating. Like DeRozan, he’s not undergoing surgery. Bogut has taken PRP (platelet-rich plasma) treatment and the prognosis is he’ll be back in uniform sooner than later.

Aside from Golden State’s two explosive gunners, Kerr has three more players averaging in twin digit points – Draymond Green 12.1, Marreese Speights 11.8 and Harrison Barnes 10.9. The list excludes Andre Igoudala, Bogut and David Lee who’s just been reactivated from the injury list. The Warriors are making a lot of noise proving they deserve more recognition.

Kerr was Phil Jackson’s top choice to coach the New York Knicks this season. But in the end, Kerr went with Golden State where he’s displaying what he learned as a player under Jackson and Gregg Popovich. 

Another surprise team this season is Atlanta whose Hawks are No. 2 in the East with a 22-8 mark. Of the top eight in the East, only five own winning records, Toronto, Atlanta, Washington, Chicago and Cleveland. The Cavs are struggling for consistency with new coach David Blatt still trying to generate chemistry with LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love. Losing Anderson Varejao to a left Achilles tendon rip will hurt down the stretch. 

James’ previous team Miami is in transition, adjusting without him. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra never expected winning would be so difficult with only Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in the forefront. Another former powerhouse Indiana is No. 11 in the East with an 11-20 mark, waiting for Paul George to return.

In the West, the Los Angeles Lakers are No. 14 at 9-21 and Oklahoma City isn’t even in the top eight at 15-17. All top eight West teams are over .500 and New Orleans, brandishing a 15-15 record, isn’t even in the cast. Portland, Memphis and Houston join Golden State as the West teams with less than 10 losses. San Antonio is 19-13 and in seventh place as Popovich does just enough to keep head over water while his veterans are in and out of the active roster, presumably to rest them for the late surge.