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!!