{"id":35992,"date":"2020-12-21T10:30:12","date_gmt":"2020-12-21T15:30:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=35992"},"modified":"2020-12-20T20:01:11","modified_gmt":"2020-12-21T01:01:11","slug":"toronto-raptors-2020-21-season-preview-atlantic-division-champions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2020\/12\/21\/toronto-raptors-2020-21-season-preview-atlantic-division-champions\/","title":{"rendered":"Toronto Raptors 2020-21 Season Preview: Atlantic Division Champions"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Toronto Raptors<\/a> are one of the most successful teams in the 2010s. As a result, they are currently tied for the second-most consecutive playoff appearances in the NBA. During that time, they have won six Atlantic Division titles and won one NBA championship. They will be looking to continue that success in the 2020-21 season.<\/p>\n

Toronto Raptors 2020-21 Season Preview<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Reviewing the 2019-20 NBA Season<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Raptors had a terrific regular season in 2018 despite losing Kawhi Leonard<\/a><\/strong> to the Los Angeles Clippers<\/a> as they defended their Atlantic Division title. The Raptors finished with a 53-19 record, which is the second-best in the NBA and the Eastern Conference. It was also the best winning percentage in an NBA season in the Raptors\u2019 franchise history, according to Aaron Rose of Sports Illustrated.<\/p>\n

There were many highlights of the 2019-20 season, with the emergence of players like Chris Boucher<\/a><\/strong>, Fred VanVleet<\/a><\/strong>, Norman Powell<\/a><\/strong>, and Terence Davis<\/a><\/strong>. Furthermore, Pascal Siakam<\/a><\/strong> would make another giant step forward and became a first-time NBA All-Star for the Raptors. Other players that impressed were Rondae Hollis-Jefferson<\/a><\/strong> and Serge Ibaka<\/strong><\/a>. Unfortunately, both players have decided to move on from the Raptors.<\/p>\n

However, the 2020 playoffs were one of the more frustrating postseason runs for the Raptors. One of their two All-Stars, Siakam, did not play well and struggled to shoot the ball. As a result, they would lose against the Boston Celtics<\/a> in the Eastern Conference Semi-finals in six games.<\/p>\n

Offseason Moves for the Three-Time Defending Atlantic Division Champions
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Toronto Raptors and their NBA Draft Picks\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Raptors made full use of their two NBA draft picks<\/a>, picking Malachi Flynn<\/a><\/strong> with the 29th<\/sup> pick from San Diego State and Jalen Harris <\/a><\/strong>at No. 59 out of Nevada. In particular, Flynn has played very well for the Raptors in the preseason. This included scoring 17 points in 20 minutes in a close 112-109 win over the Charlotte Hornets<\/a> on December 14th<\/sup>. This is what VanVleet said about Flynn according to Doug Smith of the Toronto Star:<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s eager to learn and he\u2019s humble enough to ask and that\u2019s a dangerous combination: when you\u2019re humble enough to seek out the info but still have that swagger and that confidence to go out there on a court and (do it),\u201d VanVleet said of the 22-year-old rookie point guard.<\/p>\n

The Three-Time Atlantic Division Champions Offseason<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Unfortunately, they will not be able to follow this up for the rest of the off-season<\/a>. They had a good start though, signing VanVleet to a four-year deal<\/a>. However, they were not able to re-sign their other two big free agents in Ibaka and Marc Gasol<\/a><\/strong>. Ibaka was the heart and soul of the Raptors off the court and has improved tremendously during his time as a Raptor. Then there is Gasol, whose defense played a pivotal role in the Raptors\u2019 first NBA Finals victory in 2019.<\/p>\n