Repeating is difficult. Gregg Popovich – arguably the best coach in the league – has never repeated in five tries. The vaunted Celtics of the 80s were never able to do it, nor did Julius Erving and Moses Malone. You may be surprised that Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar only had one repeat. Not only does this make Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, Kobe Bryant, and Shaquille O’Neal’s performances in the pre-Super Team era more impressive, but also lends perspective to what the Raptors face this season in a Super Team era.
Somewhere between trading your veterans to ignite the next era and completing an improbable repeat with them lies a much more probable outcome: that the Raptors will be very good and not repeat or even make it to the Finals. This middle ground still has considerable benefits, including three: 1) the youth benefitting from playing under the tutelage of savvy veterans like Kyle Lowry and Marc Gasol, 2) heightened competition challenging the youth to bring the best out of them, and 3) the Raptors retaining the interest of newly found fans both here and across the border.
First, the veteran impact. Kyle Lowry has become the exemplar of grit and commitment. Marc Gasol personifies disciplined defense. And Serge Ibaka has gotten used to lurking in the background only to have a big presence in key moments. We have generally understated the impact of the traits that these veteran embody on their teammates. Fred VanVleet, Pascal Siakam and Norman Powell clearly benefited from the play of the veterans last year, but how much the veteran influence had on their character, preparation, and mental approach to the game cannot be overstated. Though all three veterans are arguably in decline, the intangible aspects of the game that they bring is what may be truly valuable this season.
The Raptors have three extra coaches on this team that can impart their knowledge and wisdom on players who have just only begun to pay attention to the finer aspects of the game. There will be plenty of these coaching moments all season, whether it’s VanVleet benefitting from Lowry’s approach to picking up charges or Gasol teaching Siakam how to defend up top without fouling, You often hear players in their later years reflect on the impact of a veteran voice in their formative years, especially in transitory periods – Vince Carter and Charles Oakley, Tim Duncan and David Robinson, the list is long. What the Raptors presently have is exactly that – willy veterans with boatloads of playoff experience ushering in a youth setup which is eager to listen and learn. These invaluable lessons will be taught even if the Raptors only get as far as the second round and that should be accounted for when evaluating the season.
Second, continuing the winning mentality is critical for this franchise. The Raptors have had six straight seasons of making the post-season during which they have a win percentage of 0.652. Winning has now become an expectation rather than a pleasant surprise which tends to brings out the best in the opposition, especially following a title. What used to be a ho-hum night north of the border has transformed into a chance to clap back at the champs. The Raptors will face fierce competition from teams who would otherwise have looked over the slot in the schedule, which provides an opportunity for further growth. You can only get better when you play great competition and the Raptors will be getting their dose of that night in and night out.
Siakam and VanVleet were blooded well last season, so it’s secondary guys like Norman Powell and OG Anunoby who will feel this burn far more this season. It is often the 8-man rotation that experiences true growth in the post-season because of heightened opposition focus and competitiveness. The Raptors on account of being champions will experience similar attention during the regular season when a wider array of players will be playing. It could be a playoff experience for those who don’t play much in the playoffs.
Finally, even if we don’t repeat but have a strong regular season it’ll reinforce the loyalty of new fans. Unlike the Jays who had a peak and then crashed, the momentum in this case is likely to be extended at least a few more years. This solidifies an already sound footing for the franchise. Those who have supported this club over the hardship years will support it no matter what may come, but it’s the newer ones in those far-reaching regions of Canada that may need Ws in the box score to retain interest. A new generation of Raptors fans started forming last season and they need wins in order to pay attention.
And can you imagine if they sneak out of the East to face a bloodied and bruised opponent coming out of the ridiculous Western conference. I’d pick the Raptors.
