After the Raptors acquired P.J. Tucker at the trade deadline last season, I was certain that iteration of the Raptors — however short the honeymoon lasted — would be my favourite. There was so much to love in Tucker. He was a hardass, he had an edge (or as Paul Pierce would say, an “it” factor) that the Raptors just hadn’t had to that point. He defended hard. He was, so clearly, trying.
Since then, I’ve moved on. This iteration of the Raptors, and I’m certain I’m not alone here, is by far my favourite — and it’s all thanks to the young guys.