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Toronto Raptors
2007-08 Record: 41-41
Cool 2007 Stat: While fellow draft-mates (LeBron, Melo, D-Wade) have catapulted to stardom in the last 3 years, Chris Bosh hasn’t taken the next step, averaging 22.5, 22.6 and 22.3 points per game the last 3 years.
Anticipated Starting Five
PG- Jose Calderon
SG- Anthony Parker
SF- Jamario Moon
PF- Jermaine O’Neal
C- Chris Bosh
Bench: Andrea Bargnani, Jason Kapono, Roko Ukic, Joey Graham, Kris Humphries
Biggest Strength – Front court potential
The Bosh/O’Neal tandem could be dominating. Both guys are agile, strong rebounders, good post scorers as well as have the ability to score facing up from 17 feet. Not to mention the Raptors’ interior defense should be much improved. O’Neal is a good shot blocker and has been a good individual post defender as well. Bosh showed his defensive potential in Bejiing. He was phenomenal in pick-and-roll defense, help defense and individual defense even when he was under-sized. Not to mention the high-low game these guys could run to perfection. Lots of potential, now they have to prove it on the court.
Biggest Weakness - Depth
This team has a very good and promising point guard, proven front court, and two good shooters in Anthony Parker and Jason Kapono. What are they going to get from Bargnani? Last season was worse than his rookie year. Jamario Moon is a great energy guy and will bring the effort every game. He needs to be their defensive specialist to maximize his contribution. But that is where they stop in terms of (somewhat) reliable production. They now have huge question marks at back-up point guard with Ukic and Soloman behind Calderon. If Jose gets hurt for extended periods of time, I would go as far as to say the Raptors season would be gone.
Key Player in ’08 – Jermaine O’Neal
He must stay healthy! In order for him to have the impact people think he can have, he must be on the floor a large majority of the season and playoffs. I thought this was a very strong trade because they didn’t lose much letting T.J. Ford go since they had an equal or better player ready to take his spot. But the addition of O’Neal has the potential to move this team up a rung in the Eastern Conference. Remember this guy was a 20-10 and 2 blocks per game big man.
Their Thaddeus (exciting player 22 or under)– Andrea Bargnani, 22
Bargnani was the first foreign-born player to ever go #1 when the Raptors took him there in 2006. His rookie campaign was promising, averaging 11.6 points and 4 rebounds per game. However, in his sophomore campaign, not only did he not take the leap that many expected, he was significantly worse in every important category and shot a horrible 38.6% from the field. Bargnani was upset enough about his performance that he reportedly worked extremely hard in the off-season and has been showing it with some great pre-season performances. The Raptors hope his play can carry over into the regular season (but hopefully not the opener).
Pete’s 2008 Outlook: 3rd place, Atlantic division / 5th place, Eastern conference / 10th place, NBA
I’m not of the belief that Jermaine O’Neal is going to come into Toronto and suddenly become the player he was a couple years ago. While his presence should improve the Raptors, he’s not a game-changer in my opinion. I think the team will improve by having Calderon playing as the undisputed #1 PG and by Chris Bosh carrying over his fantastic Olympic performance where he outplayed Dwight Howard by a great deal. I think they need to improve their SF position before they become a force in the East.
Dannie’s 2008 Outlook: 3rd place, Atlantic division / 6th place, Eastern conference / 13th place, NBA
The Raptors are better but still have a hole at small forward and need to see how O’Neal and Bosh mesh together in the front court. Neither player is really used to playing second fiddle to anyone since they’ve been playing considerable minutes in the league. This team also lacks quality depth off the bench. Kapono is about as good a shooter you can bring off the bench, but they get pretty weak after him at every position. Aside from the health and performance of O’Neal the Raptors will need Andrea Bargnani to have a much better season this year than last if they want to get out of the first round of the playoffs.
Philly Connection: Anthony Parker
Anthony Parker was drafted by the Nets and traded to the Sixers in the 1997 draft in the Keith Van Horn for Tim Thomas trade. In the 2nd round of this draft, the Sixers made memorable picks in selecting Marko Milic, Kebu Stewart and James Collins. Parker played 55 games in the NBA and was off to Europe in 2000. He is one of the few players who managed to go over to Europe and refine his game enough to make it back to the states, which he did in 2006-07 with the Raptors. Since his return, he has been one of the best shooters in the league, shooting 44% from behind the arc in 2 seasons.
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I’m sure hoping that Bosh and Carter have monster years, since I drafted them in our fantasy league. This is going to be a new experience for me. I don’t know how I will be able to pull for “my players” around the league to put up big numbers while at the same time hoping their teams lose and rooting against them when the play the Sixers, like Toronto does tonight. I guess I’ll have to hope they all fall flat against the Sixers and rack up the big numbers against every other team.
Dannie & Pete– nice assessment and hopefully we get a more accurate reading tonight(10/29)! You are spot on regarding the main strength/weakness. Here is my assessment:
The Toronto Raptors– Canada’s only NBA team and they have now changed the face of the franchise and have nicely recovered from trading Vince Carter and removing Rob Babcock as GM. (Fantasy matchup: Team Canada v.s Toronto Raptors, who would win?)
Greatest strength(s):
-Scoring
-Potential starting frontcourt (especially on the defensive end)
”IF” rule states– “IF” Bosh and O’ Neal are HEALTHY
-Three point shooting (right now the team has hit at least one three pointer in 776 consecutive games in the regular season)
-Starting Lineup (Heart of the Offense/Defense)
-Bryan Colangelo (great knowledge of International potential)
Greatest weakness(es):
-Depth (and the Strong Euro, Weak Dollar over the summer)
Where are the backups to every starting position??
Gone are:
1)Carlos Delfino
2)Primo Brezec
3)Jorge Garbajosa
4)Darrick Martin
5)T.J Ford (traded to Pacers) – speediest point guard when healthy.
6)Rasho Nesterovic (traded to Pacers) – could have been a backup for O’Neal. (say Rasho’s name in Stephen A’s voice)
-Defense (Other than Potential Frontcourt’s)
-Jump shooting team
-A lack of a proper SF since Mo Peterson’s departure
(What is Jamario Moon exactly? A tweener at SF/PF)
Key matchups:
v.s Sixers (last season 3-1) : Obviously, with opening night and then weeks later at Toronto. This series is key in determining who will be 2nd in the Atlantic Division and hopefully get homecourt in the 1st round. Obviously both teams are not going to catch Boston unless there are major problems over there.
v.s Magic (1-2 last season, 1-4 playoffs 08) Motivation and revenge of course. They could face each other again in 2009 in the 1st round. Do they have any answers against Dwight Howard? Hopefully Jermaine O’Neal could be the solution defensively. But their shallow depth will make it difficult to win that series or ANY series!
v.s Celtics (1-3 last season). Seeing these two teams against each other was fun– high scoring, including a game winning shot from Ray Allen at Toronto and the Raptors stunning the Celtics at Boston with a game winner from Calderon). This is could determine whether they can make a run for the Atlantic or simply run and go extinct when facing Boston.
(With that said, the Raptors will be 3rd in the Atlantic Division, 6th in the East! A lot revolves around the health of their frontcourt and their bench.)
(On a side note, the Sixers will split the season (2-2) with the Raptors with each winning one at home and one on the road. The key(s) will be Depth and Perimeter Shooting. On paper, the Sixers have a better bench and some capable perimeter shooters. On paper, the Raptors have perimeter shooters (mainly in the starting lineup) and a questionable bench. Both teams have interesting starting frontcourts (offensively and defensively), but the Sixers are much deeper in the frontcourt roster. Both teams will be leaving perimeter shooters open. Now, it would be GREAT if the Sixers can SNAP the Raptors consecutive three point shooting streak per game. That should be a goal Mo should preach (and not just the Raptors)!!
The irony is that the Raptors could have drafted Iggy in 2004 as the #8 pick, but chose Rafael Araujo (last scene working out the Timberwolves). Perhaps this was ONE of the best moves by Billy King (an accidental gift). King was better than Babcock.
Both of these teams have something in common other than being Atlantic Division rivals:
-They traded their franchise players and have recovered nicely
-Both upgraded their GMs
-Both have intriguing starting frontcourts
-Both have their share of issues on defense
-Both high scoring
-Both are looking to advance past the 1st round this season
-Both will challenge for 2nd in Atlantic, but not catch C’s.
-Donyell Marshall (part of Raptors record books)
-Both believe in the team concept (no actual superstar)
-Both faced each other in memorable Semifinals 2001
-Both teams have high expectations!!
Any more? Always welcomed to heat up this matchup!! Raptors fans? Sixers fans? Let’s make things interesting!!
Rumor has it that the Cavs are targeting Chris Bosh in 2010 Free Agency in an effort to keep LeBron in Cleveland. That would be an interesting team, since they are shallow in the frontcourt and Ben Wallace cannot score or play at PF.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-lebron102908&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
Also, I forgot to mention that the Raptors were #1 in fewest turnovers last season. That is a bit surprising. With fewer turnovers, they can make the most of their possessions.