Before the Hornets game, Damon Stoudamire, who at the time had all of 149 games of NBA experience, called a team meeting. He stressed the evils of complacency and the importance of finishing strong—and then proceeded to torch Charlotte for 28 points in a 108-100 win. Two days later the Raptors routed Boston for win number 30.

"It's not just his skill," says Toronto executive vice president Isiah Thomas when discussing what makes his point guard so valuable. "It's his leadership. The more he understands this league and the more he understands the competition, the smarter he's becoming about his leadership."

Not that his play has been shabby. Last season the 5'10" Stoudamire had two triple doubles; he was sixth in the league in assists and twice had 17 assists in a game. Stoudamire will become a free agent after this season, and Thomas has chosen not to sign him to an extension. The Raptors are about $4 million under the salary cap, and Isiah intends to use that money next summer on a big-name free agent. Then, the plan goes, he'll re-sign Stoudamire under the rule that permits clubs to exceed the cap to re-sign their own free agents.

Stoudamire, however, might not be as quick to re-up with the Raptors if Thomas should leave town. Isiah owns 9% of the club and had an agreement to purchase a majority share from owner Allan Slaight, but the deal fell through. Denver and Golden State inquired about Thomas's interest in their G.M. jobs last year, and after the failed purchase of the Raptors he might be more open to such offers.

Alongside Stoudamire in the backcourt is the rejuvenated Doug Christie, who, after being trapped on the Knicks' bench for a year and a half, found new life north of the border when Thomas traded for him in February 1996. When Christie arrived in Toronto, Isiah told him to stop worrying about failure. "He said, 'Just go out and play your game,'" says Christie. "'If you make a mistake, don't worry. Learn from it.'" The advice worked. Last season, his fifth in the league, Christie achieved career highs across the board and placed second in voting for the league's most improved player.

At voluntary workouts over the summer, Christie and Stoudamire found themselves mentoring the Raptors' top draft pick, swingman Tracy McGrady, who jumped to the pros from high school. The youngster impressed his new teammates. "He looked fantastic this summer," says Christie. "He can penetrate well, rebound well and handle the ball well. He's a very good all-around talent."

McGrady seems ready to follow in the Raptors' tradition of strong rookies. Stoudamire was rookie of the year two seasons ago, and last year Marcus Camby was a first-team All-Rookie selection. Raptors coach Darrell Walker played Camby at every position except point guard, and the 6'11" hybrid from UMass held up on defense against the likes of shooting guards Isaiah Rider and Jerry Stackhouse. The Raptors were 24-39 with Camby in the lineup but 6-13 when he was out nursing a variety of mild maladies. "If he can stay healthy and give us something approaching 82 games, he takes us to a completely different level," says Thomas.

Camby is at his best at small forward, but he might be thrust into the pivot by virtue of his height. The Raptors have a big hole in the middle—we'd throw in a doughnut analogy here, but it seems 310-pound job aspirant Oliver Miller just ate the last one—and little hope of plugging it with a quality center. Sharone Wright was injured in a car accident in July and will be out until at least the first of the year, and Zan Tabak, a 7-foot Croat, missed most of last season with a left heel injury. "If Zan can come back with the same attitude and intensity, he can give us something we don't have," says Walker.

What he can't give them is depth. Carlos Rogers, Popeye Jones and John Wallace are adequate backups for forwards Camby and Walt Williams. But the backcourt is dangerously thin, with Shawn Respert the only experienced guard among the reserves.

Thomas, however, knows the key to his season does not lie with his bench. "It's Damon who's our man," says Isiah. "We'll go as far as he takes us."

—Mark Bechtel