This is the best team of Raptors since the first Jurassic Park
We have that and more in Thursday’s NBA newsletter.
As I wrote in my updated NBA playoff projections on Wednesday, the Raptors are eminently competent and a true joy to watch. On closer inspection, they are even more than competent. They are freaking good. This is the best Raptors team ever, better than the 56-win version from 2015-16 and last season's similar edition. At 21-8 after a a blowout win over the Hornets, Toronto is on pace for 59 or 60 wins, which would be an incredible feat.
The Raptors boast the No. 4 offense (in the same realm as the Warriors, Rockets, and Cavaliers, each of which one or more no-doubt score-first Hall of Famers) and the No. 6 defense. Toronto's scoring margin is No. 3 behind only Golden State and Houston, and nearly twice as big as No. 4 Boston. There is a case that Toronto is the best team in the Eastern Conference despite being 2.5 games back in the standings.
So much attention is rightly paid to Danny Ainge's genius building of the Celtics into a powerhouse without a superstar at the start. Look at what Masai Ujiri has done in Toronto: the same darn thing without bottoming out even a bit. Ujiri inherited a 34-win team going nowhere fast in 2013 and turned into a consistent playoff team and now, since 2015-16, a real contender. He's built maybe the best bench in basketball, one that's backing up one of the best performing starting fives in the game.
Credit too should go to Dwane Casey, who has embraced a style that is not his own. Toronto is seventh in three-point rate, finding ways to get deep shots despite its best player and scorer, DeMar DeRozan, being averse to the long range. Casey has been on the hot seat a couple of times; Ujiri always stuck by him, and it's paying off.
Scores Galore ...
TOR 129, CHA 111
IND 105, ATL 95
MIA 90, BOS 89
SAC 104, BKN 99
ORL 94, CHI 112
LAL 122, HOU 116
UTA 79, OKC 107
DET 93, DAL 110
MIN 112, DEN 104
SAS 93, POR 91
MEM 84, GSW 97
PHX 95, LAC 108
... And So Much More
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There are two explanations as to why the Lakers ended the Rockets 14-game win streak on Wednesday despite James Harden's 51: Chris Paul left after aggravating that leg injury that kept him out a month (yikes!) and KYLE KUUUUUUUUZZZMA. The Lakers are quietly coming together ...
Isaiah Thomas and his kids reacting to finding out he'd been traded by the Celtics. On video. Isaiah's oldest son asking if his dad will still be an All-Star and later telling him the Warriors are still going to beat the Cavs is pretty funny, though.
LaVar Ball wants to start a basketball league for 18-year-olds who don't want to go to college. He says he'll pay them $10,000 a month. We have questions. My first question, of course, is: have you ever heard of the G League? Jesse Washington makes a robust case against the idea.
John Wall agrees that the NBA should televise the All-Star draft.
Lonzo Ball tried to help Kyle Kuzma up, and fell on his ass. Whoops!
On Ricky Rubio's new perspective on life.
Joey Crawford finds peace and quiet in retirement. Wonder if he and Tim Duncan ever hang out.
How excited is basketball-crazy Lithuania for LiAngelo and LaMelo Ball?
Fun video on the birth of the triple-double. Shout out to Dolph Schayes.
You may want to sit down for this, but Tim Donaghy was arrested on suspicion of assault.
Zach LaVine gave a young Bulls fan a puppy! Nikola Mirotic gave the Bulls another win! This is the weirdest streak since last year's Miami streak.
Kelly Olynyk dagger dunk against his old team!
Uh, Enes Kanter faces up to four years in Turkish prison due to charges he insulted Erdogan.
And finally: SB Nation has a new original animated series called Champion Ship that follows five athletes' foray into a Galactic Tournament of Champions. It's funny and good. Check it out!
Be excellent to each other.