The Toronto Raptors had 42-22 run leading to the playoffs last season and they hope the continuity of keeping their roster will allow them to start the new season fast.

"We hope it does," Dwane Casey said. "I think it does help us. Continuity with terminology, continuity with schemes, continuity with play calls, continuity with the familiarity with each other. They know some things are non-negotiable offensively, some things are non-negotiable defensively. That helps. Anytime you can keep teams together."

Amir Johnson said prior to sitting out Sunday's game that "the best thing we have is chemistry, because we have players who have been together for a couple of years now."

"It goes a long way, honestly," DeMar DeRozan added. "Everybody knows everybody's game. Everybody knows where they like the ball. It's just second nature now. Sometimes chemistry can beat talent. A lot of nights. I think we have that chemistry. We've been through a lot of struggles.

"Especially last year, with a lot of us learning on the go, from playing in the playoffs. It was just a lot that we took from it, that we've grown from. And the work that we put in this summer on top of the motivation we had from all last season, it definitely gives us the hunger to want more."