Adi Joseph

USA TODAY Sports

The Raptors emerged from the best regular season in franchise history by ensuring continuity. But can they keep up the pace without making upgrades? Toronto is No. 18 on our NBA Watchability Rankings.

2013-14 record: 48-34, lost in first round of Eastern Conference playoffs

2014-15 projected record: 42-40, No. 4 seed in Eastern Conference playoffs

What's new? Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri took a flier with the team's first-round draft pick, Brazilian project Bruno Caboclo, who probably won't contribute for a few years. The biggest upgrade came in a trade, acquiring scoring guard Louis Williams as the Atlanta Hawks dumped salary.

How good will they be? Well, everyone's back. So they could be just as good or even a little better. But Kyle Lowry's sudden leap to stardom came in a contract year, and questions still exist on the wings and in finding an ideal big man rotation.

What's the goal? Another Atlantic Division title seems well within reach, but the Raptors are pushing for more than that. If small forward Terrence Ross can produce in his second year as a starter and center Jonas Valanciunas takes another step forward at center, they could make a push to the East finals.

WHY YOU CAN'T MISS THEM

"Air Canada" redux: DeMar DeRozan became a well-rounded, All-Star shooting guard last season, but he still is one of the best dunkers in the NBA. Yet he's not even the best in his own starting lineup, as Ross is a former Slam Dunk Contest champion. This isn't "Lob City," where the Los Angeles Clippers throw up alley-oops for their athletic big men. But in transition, this team can be jaw-dropping.

Hustle and post: The Raptors didn't have a big man average more than 12 points a game last season, but they got plenty of production. Valanciunas is the potential star, but power forwards Amir Johnson, Patrick Patterson and Tyler Hansbrough and backup center Chuck Hayes give Toronto perhaps the toughest frontcourt in the NBA. Johnson, in particular, is the defensive ace for this team, one of the most underrated players in the NBA because of his acumen and effort.

#WeTheNorth: Toronto is a hockey town, first and foremost. But the efforts of Ujiri, departing team CEO Tim Leiweke and Canadian rapper Drake to turn Toronto into a basketball town, too, have been obvious and effective, starting with their viral hashtag. The team drew tremendous support in the playoffs and turned the Air Canada Centre into a raucus home court. The fan presence was part of what kept free agents Lowry, Patterson and Greivis Vasquez in town on reasonable contracts, and it's no stretch to say others could join in the future.

PROJECTED STARTERS (with 2013-14 statistics)

PG: Kyle Lowry — 17.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 7.4 assists a game

Kyle Lowry — 17.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 7.4 assists a game SG: DeMar DeRozan — 22.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists a game

DeMar DeRozan — 22.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists a game SF: Terrence Ross — 10.9 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.0 assists a game

Terrence Ross — 10.9 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.0 assists a game PF: Amir Johnson — 10.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.1 blocks a game

Amir Johnson — 10.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.1 blocks a game C: Jonas Valanciunas — 11.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, 0.9 blocks a game

NBA WATCHABILITY RANKINGS