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Toronto Raptors
Overall: 52
Title track: 97
Ownership: 50
Coaching: 52
Players: 33
Fan relations: 37
Affordability: 104
Stadium experience: 44
Bang for the buck: 26
Change from last year: +42
The Raptors are coming off their finest season in franchise history. They won a franchise-record 56 games during the regular season, advanced past the first round for the first time in 15 years and reached the Eastern Conference finals for the first time ever. What do they do for an encore? Jump another 42 spots in these standings -- and reach the top half for the first time since 2008.
What's good
The Raptors aren't planning to let go of this recent success. Over the summer, president Masai Ujiri and coach Dwane Casey received contract extensions, which should stabilize the franchise for years to come. Raptors lifer DeMar DeRozan agreed to stay in Toronto with a five-year deal of his own, which likely played a huge part in the roster's impressive, 66-spot jump in these standings (now 33rd overall and eighth in the NBA in players). Also, the Toronto fan base is as good as it gets. Air Canada Centre (ranked 44th in stadium experience) is always sold out, and the crowds in Jurassic Park outside the arena grow with each playoff win.
What's bad
A 104th-place ranking in affordability is surprising, as Toronto tickets are actually $7 cheaper than the league average. Perhaps Raptors fans are taking their title frustrations out on the pricing: At 97th, title track is the team's other worst showing. Assuming they can replicate what they did in 2015-16, the Raptors still have a problem: LeBron James, whose team has advanced to six consecutive NBA finals and knocked Toronto out in the Eastern Conference finals last season. The bar has been raised, but the Raptors can do everything right as a franchise, and they'll still be the underdogs. It will be difficult to get over the hump as long as James is healthy and dominating on the court.
What's new
In five years in Toronto, Dwane Casey has helped his team increase its win total every year since he arrived, leading to 2015-16's 56-win season. Casey has clearly convinced the fans, who bumped him up 60 spots this season to 52nd overall. Now the Raptors are hoping a former Casey assistant -- and two-time NBA All-Star -- can do the same with Toronto's D-League team, Raptors 905. Jerry Stackhouse will coach the squad, based out of nearby Mississauga, Ontario, in its second season.
Next: Miami Heat | Full rankings