Last Season the Toronto Raptor were a dismal 22-43, but the team played better than their record indicated. Andrea Bargnani and DeMar DeRozan have the ability to score and make plays on offensive side of the court. However, Bargnani missed half the season with injuries and this season will depend on his health.
The team added point guard Kyle Lowry who played at an All-Star level in Houston last year and averaged 14.3 points, 6.6 assist and nearly two steals per game. Lowry should be able to set up Bargnani and DeRozan for great scoring opportunities.
They also brought in Landry Fields, who was inconsistent in his two seasons with the New York Knicks. Fields was a first-team All-Rookie selection in year one, but fell off in the lockout-shortened 2011-12 season. Will he rebound this year in Toronto? The Raptor are hoping so and paying him nearly $20 million over the next three years.
Last season, Toronto had the fifth highest turnover percentage in the league averaging a turnover 14.8 percent of the time. Lowry will not be an improvement over last season's starting point guard Jose Calderon. Lowry averaged 2.8 turnovers per game compared to Calderon's two. NBA 2K13 has Lowry averaging 3.0 turnovers a game this season.
According to NBA 2K13, The Raptors will sneak into the playoffs in the last two weeks of the season. Toronto emerges as the eighth seed in the playoffs after a tight race with the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks suffer some late season injuries and go 2-8 in their last 10 games of the season. Their swoon and the Raptors 9-1 record to close out the season earn Toronto the playoff spot.
After another year in Europe, 2011 No. 5 pick overall Jonas Valanciunas comes to Toronto, but doesn't make a significant impact. The Raptors face the Miami Heat in the first round and take game one of the series, but the Heat win four straight to eliminate Toronto.
Here is how the game simulates the Raptors' season:
Regular Season Record: 41-41 Eighth in the Eastern Conference
Top scorers: PG Kyle Lowry 14.9 PPG, SG DeMar DeRozan 17.4 PPG, PF Andrea Bargnani 22.9 PPG
Leading rebounders: PF Ed Davis 7.1 RPG, C/PF Amir Johnson 7.9 RPG, PF Andrea Bargnani 8.5 RPG
Assist Leader: SG Landry Fields 4.7 APG, PG Jose Calderon 4.9 APG, PG Kyle Lowry 7.0 APG
Playoff Opponents
Round 1: The Miami Heat, the Heat win the series 4-1
Round 2: Did not qualify
Conference Finals: Did not qualify
NBA Finals: Did not qualify
Check out our other NBA 2K13 team previews:
Miami Heat
Oklahoma City Thunder
San Antonio Spurs
Boston Celtics
Los Angeles Lakers
Philadelphia 76ers
New York Knicks
Brooklyn Nets
Chicago Bulls
Los Angeles Clippers
Minnesota Timberwolves
Portland Trail Blazers
Cleveland Cavaliers
Washington Wizards
Denver Nuggets
Phoenix Suns
Houston Rockets
Orlando Magic
Atlanta Hawks
Memphis Grizzlies
New Orleans Hornets
Dallas Mavericks
