2013-2014 Toronto Raptors: Finding the Right Mix

2013-2014 Toronto Raptors: Finding the Right Mix

2013-2014 Toronto Raptors: Finding the Right Mix

For the previous few seasons the Toronto Raptors were a franchise on the mend, a franchise trying to build themselves back into a position to compete in the playoffs on a more regular basis. It had been since the 2007-2008 NBA season when the Raptors last saw the playoffs, and in their rebuilding years the Raptors had to experience plenty of downs. During the course of the 2013-2014 season, however, the Raptors finally experienced more uplifting moments.

In the 2013-2014 NBA season the Toronto Raptors went 48-34, finishing 4 games ahead of the Brooklyn Nets to win the Atlantic Division. The Raptors went 11-5 in divisional play. The Raptors went 26-15 on their home court of the Air Canada Centre while going 22-19 on the road.

Shooting guard DeMar DeRozan quickly became the high-scoring threat for the Raptors as he would zoom past defenders with ease and drive to the basket, or alternatively spot up for 3 points. DeRozan had 1,791 total points with 343 rebounds, 313 assists and 86 steals, making 604 of 1,407 field goals, 64 of 210 3-point shots and 519 of 630 free throws. Point guard Kyle Lowry had 1,417 total points with 369 rebounds, 586 assists and 121 steals, making 457 of 1,080 field goal shots, 190 of 500 3-point shots and 313 of 385 free throws.

Center Jonas Valanciunas had 916 total points while making 359 of 676 field goal shots and 198 of 260 free throws. Power forward Amir Johnson had 799 total points with 505 rebounds, 115 assists and 88 blocks, making 344 of 612 field goal shots and 91 of 143 free throws. Shooting guard Terrence Ross had 879 total points while making 318 of 751 field goal shots, 161 of 408 3-point shots and 82 of 98 free throws.

The Raptors initially got out to an underwhelming start to their regular season as they were just 6-12. However, it would be partly because of a significant trade made by the Raptors that helped turned their entire season around. The Raptors successfully pulled of a trade with the Sacramento Kings which saw Toronto give up small forward Rudy Gay, forward Quincy Acy and center Aaron Gray in exchange for small forward John Salmons, point guard Greivis Vasquez, center Chuck Hayes and power forward Patrick Patterson.

Greivis Vasquez had 582 points with 228 assists, making 212 of 508 field goal shots, 93 of 239 3-point shots and 65 of 76 free throws. John Salmons only had 298 total points but he did have 103 assists and made 109 of 206 field goal shots and 47 of 121 3-point shots. Patrick Patterson had 437 points while making 175 of 367 field goal shots and 46 of 112 3-point shots.

During the regular season the Toronto Raptors never broke out a very long winning streak, but they did have a modest 5-game winning streak that helped set the tone for the rest of their season. This 5-game winning streak began on December 27 with a 95-83 win over the New York Knicks, and it ended on January 3 with a 101-88 win over the Washington Wizards.

One week before their 5-game winning streak the Raptors would play an amazing overtime game with the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center on December 20. The Raptors outlasted the Mavericks and beat them 109-108. Kyle Lowry had 20 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists while making 3 of 7 3-point shots. Jonas Valanciunas had 18 points, pulling down 13 rebounds and making 8 of 13 field goal shots. DeMar DeRozan, Amir Johnson and Terrence Ross all scored 15 points each. DeRozan also had 7 rebounds and 9 assists. Johnson also had 6 rebounds and 3 steals, making 5 of 8 field goal shots and 4 of 6 free throws. Ross made 5 of 9 field goal shots and 3 of 4 3-point shots.

In the 1^st Round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs the Toronto Raptors would face their Atlantic Division rivals, the Brooklyn Nets, ad unfortunately, unlike how they fared in the regular season against them, the Raptors were not able to put the Nets away. The Nets eliminated the Raptors from the playoffs by winning this series 4 games to 3.

In Game 2 on April 22 at the Air Canada Centre the Raptors beat the Nets 100-95. DeMar DeRozan had 30 points with 3 rebounds and 2 assists and made 12 of 14 free throws. Amir Johnson had 16 points with 9 rebounds and 2 blocks, making 8 of 10 field goal shots. Jonas Valanciunas had 15 points and grabbed down an impressive total of 14 rebounds, making 5 of 9 field goal shots and 5 of 7 free throws.

In Game 4 on April 27 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, the Raptors defeated the Nets 87-79. DeRozan once again was the main force of scoring as he had 24 points along with 5 rebounds and 2 assists, making 9 of 11 free throws. Kyle Lowry was close behind with 22 points along with 4 rebounds and 2 assists, making 3 of 8 3-point shots and 5 of 5 free throws. Amir Johnson had 17 points with 5 rebounds and 2 steals, making 7 of 11 field goal shots.

In Game 5 on April 30 at the Air Canada Centre the Raptors narrowly beat the Nets 115-113 to take a 3 games to 2 series lead. Kyle Lowry had an amazing game when it came to perimeter shooting as he would make 6 of 9 important 3-point shots. Lowry would score 36 points, having 6 assists and making 11 of 19 field goal shots and 8 of 10 free throws. DeRozan stayed efficient as he had 23 points along with 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals, making 12 of 13 free throws. Valanciunas had 16 points with 6 rebounds, making 7 of 10 field goal shots.

The 2013-2014 season would only be the start of a string of postseason appearances for the Toronto Raptors as they were finally on the right track after spending years of finding the right mix of basketball talent. Having a solid core on their roster, the Raptors appeared to be going places.