Amid disarray in NBA, Raptors betting on controlled chaos

Raptors are betting on controlled chaos in NBA. Last season's Finals combatants are dealing with fallout from Draymond Green punching Jordan Poole in practice. Celtics are helmed by a new head coach after Ime Udoka was suspended for the year just before training camp.

The Toronto Raptors are betting on controlled chaos to succeed in the NBA. They start their season against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. ET. Fred VanVleet, Gary Trent Jr., Scottie Barnes, OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam are expected to start the game.

Philadelphia beats Toronto 132-97 and takes the first round series 4-2. Joel Embiid scores 33 points and James Harden 22 points. Toronto's most impactful off-season addition may be Otto Porter Jr. and Juancho Hernangomez. The Raptors spent their lone draft pick, a second rounder, on centre Christian Koloko.

Raptors are a basketball experiment. They have a roster of players that all play the same position. Scottie Barnes, the rookie of the year, plays guard/forward.

Scottie Barnes scored 28 points and had 16 rebounds in a rout of Brooklyn. Siakam, Anunoby, Achiuwa, Boucher and Young are also important for the Raptors. They are able to organize an offence, make plays with the ball and score in transition.

VanVleet is a traditional 6'1" point guard and a 38.2% three-point shooter for his career. Last season, Toronto's field-goal percentage ranked 25th in the league.

Fred VanVleet talks to CBC Front Burner's Jayme Poisson about his sense of self-belief, becoming a leader on the team and mentoring young people through his scholarship program. Siakam won Most Improved Player last summer and Barnes is potential personified.