2016 NBA Predictions: A look at each team in the league

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Oct 19, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) gets defended by Detroit Pistons guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (5) during the first quarter at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /

Rumor had it that Toronto superstar DeMar DeRozan was going to leave for the Los Angeles Lakers in the offseason, but that wasn’t what happened.

Instead, Toronto retained it’s power duo for at least one more season, with both Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan back and ready for action.

We saw the Raptors have a franchise-best season a year ago, but Cleveland’s pursuit of a championship proved to be too much for their team to handle.

While this season may not end differently, the Raptors will face a new set of challenges in 2016-17. Instead of resting at the top of the Eastern Conference, they’ll be exposed for how good they really are and end up as the fourth seed in the playoffs.

Middle of the pack isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it’s an honest representation of how good they’ll fare in the postseason.

Realistically, this is Cleveland’s conference to lose still, and there’s no signs of LeBron James and company slowing down just yet.

If for whatever reason the conference implodes, the Raptors could be one of the teams that emerges as victors — but until then, no reason for over-hype.

Season Prediction: (48-34), 3rd in Atlantic

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