Raptors 2008-09 Thread

[Dirtybird]

With the pre-season underway and the start of the regular season only a matter of a few weeks away, I think that it's a good time to have a Raptors thread.

As I see it, the Raptors have quite a few questions entering the season:
1) How healthy is Jermaine O'Neal? How productive will he be?
2) How much better will Bargnani be after spending the offseason bulking up and developing his post game?
3) Can Calderon shoulder the PG duties for the whole season? Can Will Solomon and Roko Ukic be adequate backup PG's?
4) Do the Raptors have enough depth?
5) Are the Raptors adequate at the wings?
6) Is Sam Mitchell a good enough coach to lead the Raptors past the 1st round?
7) How will Matt Devlin do replacing Swirsky as the voice of the Raptors?

Is think that this team will finish between 45-53 wins and will reach the 2nd round of the playoffs.

The Raptor's season schedule (1st game is Oct 29th @ PHI):
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/teams/schedule?team=tor

There is quite a bit of Raptors related analysis and season previews already on the web, not to mention that ESPN John Hollinger has already posted his breakdown of each team and player profiles (which seem to be no longer available to just ESPN insiders).

Hollinger's Team Forecast for the Raptors
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/trainingcamp08/columns/story?columnist=hollinger_john&page=RaptorsForecast0809

Hollinger's player profile for CB4 and other Raptors:
http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/players/hollinger?playerId=1977&action=upsell&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnba%2fplayers%2fhollinger%3fplayerId%3d1977

Mark Stein's pre-season power rankings (Raptors are 10th):
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/powerranking?season=2009&week=-1

ESPN's Raptors preview (their panel's prediction is 3rd in the Atlantic and 6th in the East):
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/dailydime?page=dime-TorontoPreview0809

SI.com's season preview:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/paul_forrester/10/10/raptors.preview/index.html?eref=T1

Jack Armstrong's season previewwith his 7 keys to the season:
http://www.tsn.ca/blogs/Jack_Armstrong/?id=251853

TSN's Tim Chisholm's analysis of the Raptors big man situation and season preview:
http://www.tsn.ca/blogs/Tim_Chisholm/?id=252543
http://www.tsn.ca/nba/story/?id=248543

Foxsports' Charley Rosen's Atlantic Division preview (for the sake of balance I'll include him, although I'm well aware that some don't particularly like his analysis):
http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/8650920/Atlantic-Division-not-a-pushover-any-more

Link to Doug Smith's blog:
http://thestar.blogs.com/raptors/

Link to Micheal Grange's blog:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/blogs/wbbasketball

Link to Eric Smith's blog:
http://www.nba.com/raptors/news/eric_smith_blog.html

Thescore.ca Raptor's preview:
http://www.thescore.com/nba/nba_news_article.aspx?eventId=NEWS-10212008-ACN-2008-OUTLOOK-TOR

Here's to hopefully an exciting season of basketball.

[Darryl]

As a Suns fan who also watches the odd Raptors game its an interesting year for both teams. Will the Suns implode with their older line up? and will the Raptors finally take the next step?

[Dirtybird]

With the exception of Amare, the Suns are becoming an old team. I think that Shaq is done in terms of being able to make an impact. Nash has already defied the trend of PG slowing down in their early 30's, so it will be interesting to see how long he can fight off father time, because once he goes so do any chances (however slim they might be) of the Suns winning the Larry O'Brien trophy. And then what do you do with Amare? I think that by Sarver trying to pinch a few pennies and selling away draft picks that he ended up costing himself a whole wack of cash in not only the added revenue from extra playoff games (from presumably going deeper into the playoffs) and having a chance to draft Deng and other, but he also could have avoided mistakes like Marcus Banks. That team could have been dynastic if they had played their cards right.

[Dunder Mifflin]

I know I'm not adding anything new to the Raptors off-season discussion but the upcoming campaign hinges on the health of J.O.  If he can stay healthy and play starters' minutes, then the Raps are a top 4 team in the East.  If he has more injury problems, then it's likely going to be another 8th or 9th place finish for them.  I don't know if anything is as cut-and-dry as that for them in the upcoming season.

Watching their preseason game against the Knicks, I noticed a change in Bargnani's approach.  The biggest difference?  In both games he's played +25 minutes and in both games he's only taken 2 shots from beyond the three point line.  He's driving to the basket a hell of a lot more, looking more and more aggressive.  This seems like it's his make-or-break year in his Toronto tenure.  He doesn't have to live up to his pre-draft Dirk Nowitzki hype, but at least counterbalance some of the lost bench depth with guys like Delfino, Nesterovic and TJ Ford all departed. 

I like Solomon.  I didn't like his 6 TO's in the first preseason game against the Cavs but from what I've been reading is it was better than the boxscore reads.  Roko Ukic looked as advertised.  Raw with some semblance of limited potential.  I really don't know what to make of it but the bottom line is Calderon has to play big time minutes and still maintain his numbers with some level of consistency for this team to succeed.  They're not going to get bailouts from Solomon and/or Ukic like they did with Ford.

Finally, taking one last positive from the Knicks game, I really liked Matt Devlin.  I haven't heard too much about him from his past stints with Grizzlies or Bobcats, but I found him completely tolerable.  I enjoyed the way he asked Sherm several bait questions, only to cut him off mid-sentence to call a Chris Bosh two handed dunk.  It was entertaining, and I can honestly say that not hearing how awesome the Raptors are every 5 minutes might be a nice departure from years past.  Hey...I loved Chuck, but I think Devlin's Bob Costas-meets-Michael Scott type of broadcasting is exactly what this team needs to make it deep in the postseason.

[The Game]

1) How healthy is Jermaine O'Neal? How productive will he be?

No idea. And that's probably the most important question for this team's success. If he plays well and fits in the system, the Raptors can win 50 games this year.

2) How much better will Bargnani be after spending the offseason bulking up and developing his post game?

I think the success of this franchise as a championship contender relies on what Andrea Bargnani becomes. With this team one elite player short of being in the EC finals in my mind, and with their ownership unwilling to spend over the luxery tax threshold, Andrea becomes the only asset that can get that additional player. Or maybe he'll actually become that player as Colangelo seems to think he will. Ultimately I think it all comes down to him, though (how we evaluate BC's time as a GM in Toronto, the success of this franchise for the foreseeable future, etc), and that's kind of a scary prospect.

3) Can Calderon shoulder the PG duties for the whole season? Can Will Solomon and Roko Ukic be adequate backup PG's?

Jose averaged 30 minutes last year, and started a lot of games. I think he'll be fine.

Solomon looks like a steal from the Euro Leagues and should be a pretty good backup. While Ukic seems like a more polished player already than what Jose was in his 1st season. There is potential there, and I think he'll get more minutes as the season goes on.

4) Do the Raptors have enough depth?

Not really, particularly with the SG/SF, unless somebody steps up.

5) Are the Raptors adequate at the wings?

Even though I think AP is an underrated player who could do more if given the responsibility, they are not even close to adequate, not in a league with so many elite guards. This will prove to be their downfall this year.

6) Is Sam Mitchell a good enough coach to lead the Raptors past the 1st round?

With the right players, sure, why not?

7) How will Matt Devlin do replacing Swirsky as the voice of the Raptors?

He's a pretty generic announcer, much more suited for national broadcasts on ESPN/TNT,  but I"m sure he'll be fine. Nobody can ever replace Chuck in my mind, though. I'll miss him.

Is think that this team will finish between 45-53 wins and will reach the 2nd round of the playoffs.

I'll say 50. Bosh is getting even better, he's one of the top offensive players in the NBA now, and he'll get them into the 2nd round.

[Lime]

I think that last year Mitchell did a poor job of utilizing his assets, and in turn did a poor job of getting the most out of this team. They underachieved terribly last season, and unless I'm mistaken about Mitchell, or unless he improves as a coach, the Raptors will underachieve terribly once again.

I think with a solid coach this is a team that should, at least, come extremely close to making it to the conference finals. If, once again, they can't even win a playoff round, it will speak volumes of the (in)abilities of their current coach.

[Scorpion]

I think that last year Mitchell did a poor job of utilizing his assets, and in turn did a poor job of getting the most out of this team. They underachieved terribly last season, and unless I'm mistaken about Mitchell, or unless he improves as a coach, the Raptors will underachieve terribly once again.

I think with a solid coach this is a team that should, at least, come extremely close to making it to the conference finals. If, once again, they can't even win a playoff round, it will speak volumes of the (in)abilities of their current coach.

Yeah. Last year's squad had championship written all over them.

[Lime]

I think that last year Mitchell did a poor job of utilizing his assets, and in turn did a poor job of getting the most out of this team. They underachieved terribly last season, and unless I'm mistaken about Mitchell, or unless he improves as a coach, the Raptors will underachieve terribly once again.

I think with a solid coach this is a team that should, at least, come extremely close to making it to the conference finals. If, once again, they can't even win a playoff round, it will speak volumes of the (in)abilities of their current coach.

Yeah. Last year's squad had championship written all over them.

Yes, that's exactly what I said.

I said last year's team should have won the Championship.

Well done.

[Scorpion]

I think that last year Mitchell did a poor job of utilizing his assets, and in turn did a poor job of getting the most out of this team. They underachieved terribly last season, and unless I'm mistaken about Mitchell, or unless he improves as a coach, the Raptors will underachieve terribly once again.

I think with a solid coach this is a team that should, at least, come extremely close to making it to the conference finals. If, once again, they can't even win a playoff round, it will speak volumes of the (in)abilities of their current coach.

Yeah. Last year's squad had championship written all over them.

Yes, that's exactly what I said.

I said last year's team should have won the Championship.

Well done.

That's called sarcasm. Why did I make a sarcastic post? Because you're so ridiculously wrong.

Bye now.

[Lime]

I think that last year Mitchell did a poor job of utilizing his assets, and in turn did a poor job of getting the most out of this team. They underachieved terribly last season, and unless I'm mistaken about Mitchell, or unless he improves as a coach, the Raptors will underachieve terribly once again.

I think with a solid coach this is a team that should, at least, come extremely close to making it to the conference finals. If, once again, they can't even win a playoff round, it will speak volumes of the (in)abilities of their current coach.

Yeah. Last year's squad had championship written all over them.

Yes, that's exactly what I said.

I said last year's team should have won the Championship.

Well done.

That's called sarcasm. Why did I make a sarcastic post? Because you're so ridiculously wrong.

Bye now.

You seem to think only a Championship-calibre team can underachieve, which is as wrong as wrong can get.

[Dirtybird]

Lime, I agree with you that I don't think that Sam Mitchell is a good coach. IMO, he's a good motivator and team chemistry guy, but his X's and O's are lacking bigtime. Under-utilization of players and thing like bad defensive rotations and poor decisions on when to double, not to mention playing like someone like Juan Dixon on McGrady or Kobe are frustrating to watch.

[Dunder Mifflin]

Sam Mitchell is an amazing assistant coach.  Unfortunately, Colangelo was handcuffed and ultimately HAD to resign Mitchell because of the "big" season he had.  I'm not anti-Mitchell, I would just like to see him return as an assistant coaching at this point in his career, preferably with the Raps.

I'm not going to slag him for all their woes, though.  He's been able to get some decent production out of low-ceiling players in the past...and face it, rotations and defensive miscues aside, he hasn't had a lot to work with in the past.

[Scorpion]

I think that last year Mitchell did a poor job of utilizing his assets, and in turn did a poor job of getting the most out of this team. They underachieved terribly last season, and unless I'm mistaken about Mitchell, or unless he improves as a coach, the Raptors will underachieve terribly once again.

I think with a solid coach this is a team that should, at least, come extremely close to making it to the conference finals. If, once again, they can't even win a playoff round, it will speak volumes of the (in)abilities of their current coach.

Yeah. Last year's squad had championship written all over them.

Yes, that's exactly what I said.

I said last year's team should have won the Championship.

Well done.

That's called sarcasm. Why did I make a sarcastic post? Because you're so ridiculously wrong.

Bye now.

You seem to think only a Championship-calibre team can underachieve, which is as wrong as wrong can get.

No. I just don't agree with blaming Mitchell for the Raptors not getting past the 1st rd. last season. He's certainly not the greatest coach in the league but Orlando was a better team than the Raptors last season (the reg. season W-L rec of the two certainly proved it). Simply put, the Raptors were not a good enough team to advance to the conference finals. This year however, they should have a shot at 50 wins if everything goes to plan.

[Stieb]

LETS GO RAPTORS! 

[Dirtybird]

The season starts tonight @ 6PM on the Score.

[Dunder Mifflin]

95-84.  Bosh was as advertised...O'Neal with an impressive debut...Calderon was fantastic with only one turnover to 7 assists...Kapono looked like the playoff Kapono...all in all a great start to the season taking the 76ers at their home.  Take that, Philly sports fans!  I'm sure you'll all be crying tonight!

Oh yeah...damn.

[Krylian]

That was not a pretty game.

Brutal start for the Raptors and they were absolutely pwned on the glass.  Dalembert had 9 offensive boards on his own!

But they worked it out and gutted out a win.  They'd better be a lot more tenacious on the boards going forward...and for gods sake, BOX OUT!

[Dunder Mifflin]

If only they had won the game...

[Dirtybird]

It was nice to see the paint getting defended and JO giving a few hard fouls. Last season, almost any time a player had the ball close to the basket against the Raptors, the usual outcome was either a dunk, layup, or a trip to the foul line. Now, I'm optimistic that the interior D is much better, but I want to see the Raptors play a few more games because the Raptors could have just zoned the 76ers to death (which they pretty much did). Obviously the rebounding needs a lot of work. Bosh seemed to have a lot more energy to chase loose balls because he gets to guard the worse of the post players.

[The Game]

As expected, JO's presence makes an enormous difference in the team's defense and "toughness". Don't know what happened with the rebounding yesterday though.