6. Toronto Raptors 43-39
Toronto’s big splash this summer was adding Hedo Turkoglu. The Raptors also added combo guard Jarrett Jack and promising youngsters Marco Belinelli and DeMar DeRozan. I expect Chris Bosh to have a MVP-caliber year as he’s in the last year of his contract. The playoffs are in sight for a team that essentially gave up halfway through last season.
When I heard Toronto stole Hedo Turkoglu away from Portland, I immediately thought: ‘Hey, maybe we’ll actually have some competition in the division this season’. I mean, you take a guy like Turkoglu, put him in place next to your All-Star in Chris Bosh and suddenly you have a very formidable inside – outside punch. Factor Jose Calderone at point guard into the equation and the Raptors finally have something of a head turning nucleus. And we can’t forget about Andrew Bargnani, who’s finally transforming into a real NBA player. We at least have to take them seriously, right?
I was looking over their roster though, and I still can’t decide how I feel about it.
Brothersteve’s Green & Red Raptor Blog
Joey is big, he is strong, and he is hard to move. Joey is athletic. Joey can rebound! The one area of his game that has improved since his rookie year is his rebounding. That in and of itself makes Joey worth a second look – on this Raptors team anyway. In modest minutes, under 20 per game, Joey’s rebounding numbers have gone from 3.0rpg in 2005-06, steadily up to 3.7rpg last season. (The 07-08 year not being reflective of anything, except Mitchell)
Joey also performed well guarding bigs like Dwight Howard or stronger wing players who prefer to post up, where he could use his strength to hold his ground. Joey’s mid-range offensive game is decent as well, reflected in a very acceptable shooting percentage of about 48%.
16 Raps
“Andrew Bargnani”
“Jose Calderone”
Ha.
Hey, they’re no Pau Pierced or Kevin Garment, but we’ll still be competitive.
Marco Ballinalli, Chri Posh, Pat O’Bryaint, Rash Nostarovic, Roko Pukeic, & Marcus Stanks, hhahaha
Coached by the esteemed Jay Triad, Alex England & Marc Macaroni…
Players who ditched the team or city had turbulent times after their self-imposed departure:
Mighty Mouse
TMac
The Christies
VC15
AD
…could probably add AI in there since he should have been a Raptor, had Stern not screwed us…or was his hand forced by team AI and he wanted to avoid embarrassment?).
…add in former GM’s, coaches and even owners and it’s not a pretty sight.
Yes, these are all signs of a poorly run franchise but there has to be more to it, right?
How about an investigative report, article or poll about the “Curse of the Purple Dino”? Can’t recall seeing one for a while and we need to keep the little folklore and myth we have alive!
Just more fodder for the dawg dayz.
all those dudes made all star teams after they left their teams!
and you’re no different than many people in that you overrate Allen Iverson. sure 25+ ppg sounds good… but when you do it shooting under 40 percent and play no D. It doesn’t help your team. It’s no coincidence every team Allen ever played on got better after he left.
Stoudamire, Christie and Antonio Davis made the all-star team after they left Toronto?….Really?? are you sure about that?
and I do believe that Iverson led his Philly team to the Finals, and were perennial playoff teams.
Don’t put him down now that his carreer is almost done. AI and Shaq were the ones who saved the NBA in the mid-ninety’s when Jordan and Co. were done!
Give him his due
He did take Eric Snow and 12 other scrubs the NBA finals.
He was MVP of Denver the year before last.
He always is among leaders in steals.
He is getting a bad rap because of his season last year and rightfully so.
However if you put him on a team with a good defensive PG who can guard 2 guards and allow AI to guard the point (Denver, Dallas, Chicago, maybe a couple of others) HE WILL HELP YOU WIN!!!!
He comes with a lot of baggage and his comment that he would rather retire then come off the bench was the worst mistake of his nba life.
Imagaine if he was willing to accept a Jason terry role (scoring off the bench 30+ minutes a night)he could have maybe gone to a massive contender San Antonio (depending of Manu’s health) Boston (over Daniels) Toronto over Jack, Atlanta over Crawford trade, Clevland over BOOBY GIBSON off the bench instead of giving Moon to much money, etc etc.
But no he went all AI and that is why teams are very skeptical.
However if you could just get him to buy in (easier said then done) AI could be a real difference maker. Think Micheal Vick in the wildcat formation to all you NFL fans….
“He did take Eric Snow and 12 other scrubs the NBA finals. – I would say it was AI, the teams defense and a little help from the refs (especially in the series against the Bucks) that helped Philly make the finals
He was MVP of Denver the year before last. – if you pretend that Carmelo Anthony wasnt there and that Marcus Camby didnt have what was likely his best year ever
AI was a great player and scorer. But its his team play (or lack there of) that has always hurt his teams. Its hard to argue that the young AI wasnt great….because well, he was. Too fast for everyone, could score and would hit those clutch shots. But that all changed about 4 or 5 years ago.
when did we almost get AI!?
‘96 was the first draft the Raptors were in. Stern changed the rules of the draft for that year and did not allow expansion teams to pick first (due to Orlando getting Penny and Shaq in back to back years). If he hadn’t changed the rule we would have had the first pick…instead we picked second and picked up Camby.
Stern screwed us again in the Bargs draft year…the first year high schoolers could not get selected. We likely take Oden or Durant but we’ll never know.
Andy Bargnani sounds better.
Ask Kelvim Garnet not to thump his chest so much this year.
rumor: sign and trade Delfino to bucks for Amir Johnson- source:ESPN
Is this official yet because it would be great for us. Add another big man who can have a huge impact. A grinder who can play both ends.
Not official just proposed but it would be a solid move.
Another big body to add to the bench.
ukic and delfino for amir johnson and another player yet to be named.
colangelo doesnt stop tryong to make this team better. he’s unreal
yes as long as ukic is in that deal im happy, and next year we lose banks, the pg situation is lookin better. now douby is the 3rd string (if the trade is made) no debate. this team is lookin good if we get amir and a SF. do they even have a SF lol