The Toronto Raptors reached new heights last season. Having arguably their best season in franchise history, reaching the Eastern Conference Finals and losing to the champion Cleveland Cavaliers in 6 games, led by their 2 all-stars in DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry. After going 56-26 in the 2015-2016 NBA season, the Raptors hope that this years NBA schedule helps lead them to another successful year.
Going into this summer, re-signing DeMar DeRozan and Bismack Biyombo was a necessity for Raptors GM Masai Ujiri, and he accomplished half his plan, inking DeRozan to a 5-year deal. The other half, Biyombo, departed to Orlando to be a part of a jam packed front court. To replace his defensive stopper, he drafted Jakob Poetl and Pascal Skiam, two young bigs who could prove to be assets throughout this upcoming season. He also signed Jared Sullinger from the Boston Celtics, filling a dire void of a scoring power forward for this Raptors team.
They tried to acquire other talented assets throughout the free agency, like Pau Gasol, Serge Ibaka, and even showed interest in Taj Gibson, but landed a young and chunky Sullinger to add to their youthful roster. The Raptors will be battling Sullinger’s former team, the Celtics and the new and improved Indiana Pacers for the 2nd spot in the Eastern Conference. With their new additions, they’ve made it clear they believe their all-star backcourt of Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan can lead them to a championship.
The Raptors will begin the season with a trio of home contests against the Detroit Pistons, Cleveland Cavaliers and Denver Nuggets. The Raps won’t see the Indiana Pacers until the final month of the season, with the first rematch from the first round of the 2016 NBA playoffs coming on March 16th. Their toughest stretch of the season for Toronto could come in the final part of their season. They will face the Pacers, Sixers, Pacers again, Pistons, Heat, Knicks and Cavs to end the 2016-17 campaign.
Check out the Raptors full schedule right here, courtesy of the squad from up north.
