Why the Toronto Raptors' opener vs. Celtics is so important

This isn’t just any NBA regular season opener tonight when the Toronto Raptors host the Boston Celtics. This is a game that’s going to set the tone for a Toronto team that may have very little time to figure out if it will be a contender in the Eastern Conference this season.

This team has to go one of two ways: contend or rebuild (again). New GM Masai Ujiri isn’t messing around this year. Either this team steps up and shows some significant progress this season or he’s really going to put his stamp on this team, which could mean a total roster overhaul. That means the time for players like Rudy Gay, Demar DeRozan, and Kyle Lowry will run out quickly.

So, if the Raptors don’t get off to a good start, Ujiri could have his hand forced. That’s why tonight’s game against the Boston Celtics is so important. Sports Interaction has the Raps pegged as 8-point favorites against a rebuilt Celtics roster now that Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett have moved on to Brooklyn.

“One thing you have to do on opening night, you’ve got to temper emotions,” said Raptors coach Dwane Casey told reporters. “It’s hyped up, a lot of glitz and glamour as far as the game is concerned but one thing you have to do, you have to understand it’s going to be a grind.”

This is a very winnable game for the Raptors and considering their early schedule, they had better make the most of it. After this home game, Toronto is on the road for six of their next eight games and during that stretch the Raps play Miami at home while visiting Atlanta, Houston, Memphis, and Indiana. That’s not exactly easy.  If they get off to a 3-11 start or something, this version of the Raptors could be over by the end of the month.

That’s why Wednesday’s game is so important. If Gay and DeRozan live up to their lofty expectations and Tyler Hansborogh and Jonas Valanciunas start giving the club some sort of presence in the paint, Toronto could be a playoff team. There are a lot of ifs in this equation, but for what it’s worth the Raptors do seem pretty confident heading into this season.

“I think we’re a hell of a team,” guard DeMar DeRozan boasted. “We’re all together. Everybody has each others’ back from the first guy to the 15th guy. Everybody respects each other and we’re out here for one goal and that’s to win.”