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The Toronto Raptors have entered the All-Star break as the top seed in the Eastern Conference for the first time in league history. Winners of seven straight games and sitting comfortably at 41-16 this season, the Raptors have built themselves a comfortable two-game cushion over the former leader Boston Celtics and carved a six-and-a-half game differential with Eastern powerhouse Cleveland Cavaliers.
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Toronto underwent a change in philosophy over the offseason, re-signing Kyle Lowry to a three-year, $100 million deal and shifting the heavy emphasis on their dynamic backcourt play into a share-the-wealth system — one that has benefitted this group largely throughout the season.
DeMar DeRozan has become a better playmaker after having the best scoring season of his career in 2016-17, and the experience of playing next to Lowry for several years, as well as the new-found familiarity with Serge Ibaka, whom he's played with for the entire season now — they've all played a part in gradually inching this team to the very top of the conference.
The Raptors have won 10 of their last 12 games, but their job isn't done yet, as they face a heavy road schedule in March, playing the likes of the fourth-place Washington Wizards, the Cavs, and the Celtics — all pivotal games for retaining the top spot.
Lowry and DeRozan will take part in the All-Star Game once again, and likely re-focus back into the season, with much work still left to be done in hopes to get a stronghold for the first seed in the East and grab home court advantage throughout the playoffs in what is bound to be a fierce postseason battle.
