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Raptors carry high hopes into meeting with Hawks

Oct 29, 2014 - 2:04 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - For only the second time in franchise history, the Toronto Raptors will begin a season as the reigning Atlantic Division champions when they welcome the Atlanta Hawks to Air Canada Centre Wednesday night.

The Raps won a franchise-best 48 games last season and grabbed the third seed in the Eastern Conference. They lost a heart-breaking Game 7 at home to the Brooklyn Nets in the first round of the playoffs, but come into this campaign the heavy favorites in the Atlantic.

"I think that's one thing we've got to fight against, being comfortable," said Raptors head coach Dwane Casey. "We're not in that elite status yet. We haven't gained that, or earned that yet."

Kyle Lowry was a free agent after last season, but decided to return. He played at a near All-Star level in 2013-14, but his backcourt mate made first All-Star team.

DeMar DeRozan represented the Raptors in the midseason classic and was awesome for Toronto in the seven-game series loss to the Nets. He also played for Team USA in this summer's FIBA World Cup.

Jonas Valanciunas also played in that tournament for Lithuania and he hopes to continue his career arc trending positive. He is the choice of some pundits for Most Improved Player.

The Raptors bring most of their Atlantic Division championship roster back this season. The biggest addition was Lou Williams, who came in a deal with the Hawks. He's one of the league's best bench scorers and James Johnson could be a real steal backing up DeRozan.

The Hawks will be improved based on the fact that Al Horford, a two-time All- Star, will be back in the lineup. He played only 29 games last season after suffering his second torn pectoral muscle in three seasons.

"It's going to be a battle, but we're excited about it," Horford said of opening night. "It's going to be tough. There's always a lot of emotions running high."

The Hawks made the postseason yet again last season, despite the Horford injury. Paul Millsap made his first All-Star team and the Hawks took the Indiana Pacers to seven games before bowing out in the first round.

Jeff Teague, Kyle Korver and DeMarre Carroll are back in the starting lineup. Thabo Sefolosha was signed as a free agent from the Oklahoma City Thunder to help with defensive depth.

For the Hawks, maybe just playing meaningful basketball will be a welcome distraction.

In the offseason, it was revealed, after GM Danny Ferry read aloud a racist scouting report about Luol Deng, that owner Bruce Levenson sent Ferry and other Atlanta brass an e-mail years ago with racist overtones.

Levenson will be voluntarily selling his controlling interest in the team and Ferry is away from the team during this storm.

The Hawks and Raptors split last season's four meetings with the home team holding serve. Despite the two losses in the great north last season, Atlanta has still won seven of its last 10 trips to Toronto.