It is almost here, and try to find one Toronto Raptors fan who isn’t thrilled about it.

If it only feels like the regular season has been a long time coming, maybe it’s because the anticipation has been building since – take your pick – the Raptors' better-than-expected showing in pushing the Cleveland Cavaliers to seven games back in early May? The trade for Kawhi Leonard first became public knowledge on June 30? The trade being officially completed in early September? Training camp opening?

The waiting is finally over. The Raptors host the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night at Scotiabank Arena to kick off the regular-season marathon.

So what do we know about the Raptors now, after five pre-season games and the second last of what will end up being roughly 14 practices since training camp opened?

He may have played only 39 minutes across two pre-season games and taken just 17 shots, but the 35-year-old upon whom the Raptors have so much riding on this season (and the next two after that, given his two-year, $115-million extension covers him through 2028-29) feels like he’s ready to start playing for real.

“Just going through everything, playing with the guys, getting those games under my belt, seeing how I'm feeling, just like any other year,” said Leonard, who is in his 15th year of his pre-season preparation.

“I just trust that the hours that I put in, you know, my 10,000 hours are going to work. I can't go as hard as you used to (in training). Obviously, you gotta get more smart about everything, and recovery, you know, you’re not 20........

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