If you’re a Raptors fan, it’s hard not to get a little excited after a 135–92 opening-night win over Chicago. A 43-point victory doesn’t guarantee anything, especially against a rebuilding team, but Toronto gave us a few reasons to wonder whether this season could turn into something special.
The best-case scenario isn’t that the Raptors suddenly become championship favourites. It’s that a team that won 46 games last season and pushed Cleveland to seven games in the playoffs has found another gear. And Kawhi Leonard might be the reason.
A Defence That Can Make Life Miserable
Let’s start with what Toronto already does well. The Raptors finished fifth in defensive rating last season, and against Chicago, they forced 27 turnovers and collected 15 steals. That’s not just good defence. It’s the sort of pressure that can make an opponent question every pass.
Add Leonard’s defensive instincts and experience to a group that includes Scottie Barnes and Ja’Kobe Walter, and you have the potential for something special. The best version of this team could turn stops into fast breaks before opponents can organize. Of course, Chicago made plenty of mistakes. Toronto will have to show it can create that kind of trouble against better teams, too.
Four Scoring Options Change the Picture
Here’s what I find most encouraging: Toronto had four starters score at least 20 points, with Leonard, Barnes and Immanuel Quickley reaching 23 apiece and RJ Barrett adding 20. That gives head coach Darko Rajakovic some options. Barnes can run the offence and create opportunities for teammates. Leonard can take over possessions when the team needs a basket. Quickley’s shooting can stretch a defence, while Barrett can attack the basket.
And Leonard managed his 23 points despite shooting just 5-of-17 from the field. He didn’t need a brilliant shooting night to make an impact. If he finds a better rhythm while Barnes keeps producing, Toronto could become a difficult team to defend.
How High Could the Raptors Climb?
The best-case scenario is a top-five defensive team that can score in transition, share the ball and get meaningful contributions from four different starters. That could make Toronto a genuine threat to win a playoff series or two.
There are questions, of course. Leonard’s health matters enormously, the three-point shooting needs to improve, and Toronto can’t keep giving opponents 21 offensive rebounds. But the ingredients are there. The Raptors don’t need Leonard to do everything. They need him to complement a group that already knows how to compete.
For now, let’s enjoy the possibility. One game doesn’t make a season, but it can give a team a glimpse of what it might become. Toronto’s best-case scenario suddenly looks a little more interesting.
Related: LeBron James at 41: Why This Might Be His Most Important Season
