Before you get your panties up in a bunch, you must know that these rankings have less to do with how good a team is, and more to do with how entertaining a team is; or more specifically: How likely are you to watch said team play on a ‘Wednesday night in January’?
For perspective, the Knicks ranked higher (16th), while the Rockets ranked lower (20th). Apparently the Rockets’ broadcast crew is riddled with homers, and Robin Lopez’s bad blood with NBA mascots trumps everything.
But deep down, all Raptor fans know that there’s really nothing greater than kicking back with an MGD and catching Jack Armstrong call the game on Drake night. I don’t drink, but I imagine that last sentence would appeal to most.
From Grantland:
T-18. TORONTO RAPTORS (31)
This feels low. Skinny Kyle Lowry tore through preseason like some combination of Michael Jordan and Isiah Thomas; he has literally found another gear and he’s zipping by help defenders who cut him off just last season. Lowry at full throttle is a treat. He dives for loose balls, gambles for steals, and changes directions so fast, it’s almost like he’s bouncing instead of running. He’s small enough at 5-foot-11 that you lose sight of him among the giants, and then, bam, he pops back onto the screen in a different spot.
But the Raptors of the Lowry/DeMar DeRozan era have run a stodgy offense of midrangers, overly scripted set plays, and one-on-one hoists. That offense has worked — Toronto ranked third in points per possession last season — but it isn’t exactly popcorn entertainment. That could change this season. DeMarre Carroll lives to pass and move, Patrick Patterson provides more spacing at power forward, and slimmed-down Lowry should do even more damage in the lane. Everyone is watching Jonas Valanciunas. Trade suitors are convinced Toronto is lukewarm on him, and rival executives are curious about how Valanciunas might fare in another system — and whether a post-up 7-footer with so-so feet on defense can flourish in the modern NBA.
And nobody — nobody — shills for anything like Jack Armstrong, one of Toronto’s color guys, shills for Miller Genuine Draft. Armstrong screams about “MGD” with such glee, it’s a mild surprise he’s not chugging one when the camera turns back to him.
The new logo and court are cool, and the bench brings Luis Scola flippy shots, Bismack Biyombo’s stone hands, Terrence Ross spacing out on defense, and BRUUUUNNO!
Full article can be read here.
