The Crystal Ball
Crowd says: 41-41
RR says: 44-38
Yes we can!
The Raptors headed into the off season with little hope of improving the roster with the chips they had to play with, but a man by the name of Steve Fruitman did some math and boom! Suddenly they had their midlevel exception, veteran’s exception and Hedo Turkoglu. The MLE was converted into Jarrett Jack which addressed the Raptors biggest weakness of a year ago – backup point guard. they did away with underperforming Croatian rookie Roko Ukic and got underperforming but potentially good Amir Johnson. The veteran’s exception got us Rasho Nesterovic who should help clog the paint and improve the Raptors defensive rebounding – the team’s second biggest weakness. Jason Kapono’s rotting carcass was magically transformed into the serviceable intimidator, Reggie Evans.
Turkoglu gives the Raptors the perfect point-forward to run the pick and roll with Bosh and Bargnani, something teams will have issues dealing with. The word around the team is that the Raptors are Magic Lite. I hope they’re Magic 2.0. Oh, the team also got more Euro-rized when they traded for Marco Belinelli, a good talent that Don Nelson just didn’t like. You can tell that was a good deal by how much the Warriors hated it. I mean, c’mon, they got Devean George.
With the Raptors’ needs addressed to varying degrees and there actually being a semblance of true talent on the roster, the biggest question mark remains the coach – Jay Triano. He was 25-40 last year but let’s not forget the team finished strong with against Chicago (twice), Orlando and Philadelphia towards the end.
I know what you’re thinking: How is a rookie(ish) head coach going to integrate nine new players in a new system with two new assistant coaches (Marc Iavaroni and ex-Raptor Alvin Williams)? Triano actually has credentials at the national level for both USA and Canada, is on the same page with general manager Bryan Colangelo and commands the respect of his players. Don’t believe me? Ask Mike Krzyzewski or Jerry Colangelo. Most of all, he doesn’t just yell “Go go go!” with both arms waving like his predecessor. Most of all, he doesn’t cater solely to Bosh but factors in the whole team.
Colangelo has completely stopped everyone reminding him of Bosh’s impending free-agency but instead has us thinking of winning games and making the playoffs. He’s made it so that the coming season will be a test of whether Bosh can do anything with actual talent around him. He’s told Bosh, “Let’s see if you’re the max-player you claim to be.??”
No you won’t
We go across the Mississippi for this one and to the Bright Side of the Sun:
When Chris Bosh is the most “normal American” on your team full of Euro’s playing outside the borders of basketball’s home your motto should be, Expect Soft.
Ouch.
All-a-Twitter
@ChrisBosh: NONE OF THIS COULD HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT MY TWITTER BOSH ARMY WHO GOT ME TO 50K TONIGHT !! 2MORO I SHOUT U ALL OUT ON ESPN! they DID IT!!
Not exactly the type of contest you want to see your franchise facilitating during the off season, but his competition of “The first to 50k followers on Twitter” with Charlie Villanueva drew the ire of many fans (the folks at Raptors Republic included). He is doing his best to connect with his fans, which they can appreciate, but when you are holding out signing a contract because you are unsure of the future of the franchise, and its commitment to winning, maybe you should be doing other types of things with your summer then building up a following on Twitter. Thankfully he isn’t conducting anymore contests on Twitter.
On the record
John Hollinger:
It’s easy to split the difference and say they’ll be a .500-ish team, but I don’t think that will be the outcome. I’m expecting either a brilliant success or a spectacular failure, and I’m really not sure which.
That about sums up the feelings of 75 percent of Raptors fans.
The 2008-09 Almanac
Need a killer stat? If by “killer” you mean what kills the team, well, it’s got to be Andrea Bargnani’s rebounding. He’s the worst rebounding center in the league. His 5.3 RPG rank 89th overall and 57th amongst all centers. All the other roster moves are made just so that they can afford to have him rebounding next to nothing and still play 32-plus minutes a game.
We had issues scoring in the clutch. In crunch time they looked solely towards Bosh (which was unfair to begin with) and he couldn’t bring the cows home. His 5.4 points ranked 20th in the league in fourth quarter scoring even though he had tons of touches. We’re hoping Hedo brings some stability into late game situations.
Our record against Boston last year: 0-4. These dealt serious blows to the Raptors confidence and a win in Boston on November 27th will restore the team’s confidence and faith.
Last Year’s Almanac
- Offense: 22nd
- Defense: 22nd
- Pace: 14th
- Team Factor Strengths: Free Throws Allowed (3rd), Turnovers (9th)
- Team Factor Weaknesses: Offensive Rebounding (29th), Turnovers Forced (23rd), Shooting Allowed (22nd)
The Play
Calderon into Bosh down low, who demands the double and immediately passes to the perimeter for a picture-perfect swing sequence to find Marco Belinelli for the win.
The People’s Choice
You’d have to go with Amir Johnson under normal circumstance but there’s a chance he’ll actually play minutes over Evans and Nesterovic. So they’ll have to go with Sonny Weems. He fits the bill perfectly: Nobody’s seen him play, he looks like he can play, but he doesn’t play.
If you’re watching the bottom line, you’re watching this
Easily the pending Chris Bosh free agency. Last season was supposed to be about whether Chris Bosh was going to re-sign in Toronto. Thanks to Bryan Colangelo, there has been enough talent assembled on this team that the talk is about making the playoffs and making noise when they get there. You want to be elite? You want a max contract? Lead this team and build something special in the city that drafted you, nurtured you and idolizes you.
Fellow network member, EightPointsNineSeconds has a summary of ESPN TrueHoop previews for all 30 teams.
32 Raps
“You want to be elite? You want a max contract? Lead this team and build something special in the city that drafted you, nurtured you and idolizes you.”
This should be the mantra for all Raptors fans this season. It’s not Chris Bosh testing the Raptors, it’s the Raptors testing Chris Bosh.
I hate this bulls**t. Is it the guy that has not won a ring or been to an NBA final that is scaring the Raptors? Uh. I know why – because the Raptors are as soft as jello.Lol.
By the way, here is my dream team:-
Dejuan Blair or Blake Griffin at the 4
Brook Lopez or Biedrins at the 5
Stephen Jackson or Courtney Lee at the 2
Jordan Farmar or George Hill or Baron Davis at the 1 or a good point guard.
Stephen Jackson at the 3.
Why:-
1.You have 2 low-post defenders at the 4 and 5 ready to fight for defensive rebounds and protect the paint with blocks.
2.You have 3 players at the 1,2 and 3 that can force steals and shoot 3s to punish opponents for “blown defensive assignments”.
3.1 to 2 veterans who know how to play the game and are court leaders for direction at the court.
That adds:-
To a very stifling defense and a very unpredictable offense.
Raps fans, what are your dream teams? I would like to see your opinions and make comments about them. You can also pass comments on mine to.
Your dream team will win 30 games/year. Who’s creating offense? Maybe they can hit 3s (although Courtney Lee’s rookie year last season is the ONLY time any one of your players has shot anywhere close to 40% from 3) but nobody can get the offense started. How can you critisize the Raps for anything when this is your ‘dream team’? I think you’re Brian Burke in disguise, demanding more pugnaciousness and tenacity while completely ignoring skill.
Loved the preview, but… ‘the play’ is for Marco Belinelli? Uh-oh. If he’s on the court at the end of the game, we’re in trouble here.
Jeez, why don’t you people just take off yer rose-coloured glasses and see this new edition of the Raptors for what it is … a transitional team that will be rejigged again after the 2010 max player bazaar.. and when a lot of decent players will be let lose by teams buying max players.
Not only is this a temporary roster, even the coach could be replaced after this season. The only concern the MLSE will have is to fill the seats this season with a product that will suck in the fans.
If you look at what is going to happen after 2010, there will be several loaded teams in the East in particular, and the rest of the league will just be insignificant entertainment for their diehard fans. The NBA is catering to the largest market area teams and the other teams can suck up the leftovers.
It’s a business folks … and caveat emptor doesn’t apply to t.h. fans.
Who do you think will be gone or traded 1st?
Toronto’s the 5th largest market in North America and all Raps games are broadcast nationally across Canada. Get on your catering hats everyone, here comes the NBA!
Just got word that Raptors Intro song will be “O Fortuna”
That would be great! If that is the part of Carmina Burana that I am thinking of, that is very epic (much like “Lux Aeterna” for Boston).
Hopefully that helps pump up the team, and hopefully their season is as epic (in a good way) as the song.
One can hope.
I think this song will be the missing piece of the puzzle.
I think the J.S. Bach Toccata & Fugue in D minor would be better…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipzR9bhei_o
… and the starters could emerge wearing hoodies … and no hi/lo fives or ass jump-bumps … just standing there ominously .. hoping to scare the living sh!t out of the visiting team …. ya think ???!!!!
The only people Raptors players can scare are kids.Lol.
lol, I like it.
Opening day roster.
Weems, Evans and Douby inactive
http://www.nba.com/raptors/news/raptors_release_roster_102609.html
When Evans returns will Johnson go inactive or will it be O’Bryant? Most likely O’Bryant but one never knows.
From the nba.com link:
HOW THE TEAM WAS ASSEMBLED
2003 – Bosh (1st Round)
2005 – Calderon (August 3)
2006 – Bargnani (1st Round)
…………………………….
2009 – Turkoglu (July 9)
2009 – Wright (July 9)
2009 – Evans (June 9)
2009 – O’Bryant (February 19)
2009 – Banks (February 13)
2009 – Johnson (August 18)
2009 – Nesterovic (July 30)
2009 – Belinelli (July 30)
2009 – Douby (March 24)
2009 – Weems (August 18)
2009 – Jack (July 21)
2009 – DeRozan (1st Round)
Interesting table … 3 core players and 12 – 2009 additions. Sort of exposes the reality.
I got to ask.
Did you just figure this out?
(I know you didn’t)
There’s been literally dozens of articles written during the off season and preseason detailing this information.
We talk about “9 new faces” on the Raptors, but if you look at that list, it illustrates how discombobulated this Raptor team really is with 12 – 2009 players … and I hope it doesn’t pain you to look at the list again.
Have you ever played bball at a higher level .. and I don’t mean pickup games at the Y ….???
FAQ, you really need to stop with the douche-bag attitude. It is well beyond old at this point.
You seem to be intelligent and knowledgeable to the game (more so than someone like me, in fact). If you would just apply these assets in a constructive and respectful manner, you would:
A) Be well liked by most people here;
B) Be respected by most people here; and
C) Make consistently high-quality contributions to this site.
Do you seriously like being hated THAT much, that those three points are not worthwhile?
Typo: “knowledgeable OF the game.”
John Hollinger is probably right.
This team is likely to start slow but if they find their confidence they’ll end like the 2006 team – 47+ wins is not a stretch.
(If this team starts strong – Raptor fans are in for a treat!)
But if they start slow and lose focus, another 30 win season is possible!
High risk, high reward teams don’t usually claw their way to the middle!
Hard to argue with most of this, but I really don’t understand the controversy with the Twitter thing. Now, I can’t stand Twitter. I really don’t care about the passing thoughts of people. Twitter seems to be everything people were afraid blogging would be. But I digress.
People talked as if by doing this competition, it took time away from Bosh’s training. That’s stupid. How many hours a day did this competition take? Not much, I’m guessing. Were there complaints about, say, Bargnani flying back and forth from Europe? Visiting family? Filming commercials? Shopping? I would think all of that took way more time than Bosh’s competition. It’s more than a little ridiculous that a Twitter competition would have any effect whatsoever on Bosh’s training schedule. I think people need to get a grip and step back into reality.
Or maybe Kobe should stop spending time with his wife and children, which only takes time away from his basketball…
+1
Professional athletes should never have any hobbies that take their mind away from their team/job. As an accountant, I know I use distractions like sports only as background noise for when I’m reviewing any financial statements I can get my hands on. How else will I improve if I waste my time on something else I may enjoy?
Macy,
Shame on you. Read your own words: “distractions like sports”. If you are distracted, then you cannot focus all your attention on improving yourself. I am going to find an accounting blog and rant about your poor training.
Hahahahaha… you guys are killing me here.
+1 for each of you.
Rasho won’t be in the rotation on a regular basis unless Andrea, Chris, Reggie or Amir are injured. The same goes for Marco vs Hedo, Antoine & DeMar. Thus those two pickups, while adding decent depth, are minor.
The real indicator this season will be the record against the Celtics, Magic, Cavaliers & Lakers. If we get better against them as the season progresses, then we’ll all have something to look forward to …
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[...] Raptors Republic I know what you’re thinking: How is a rookie(ish) head coach going to integrate nine new players in a new system with two new assistant coaches (Marc Iavaroni and ex-Raptor Alvin Williams)? Triano actually has credentials at the national level for both USA and Canada, is on the same page with general manager Bryan Colangelo and commands the respect of his players. Don’t believe me? Ask Mike Krzyzewski or Jerry Colangelo. Most of all, he doesn’t just yell “Go go go!” with both arms waving like his predecessor. Most of all, he doesn’t cater solely to Bosh but factors in the whole team. [...]