They eeked out the win and led most of the way, but colour me very unimpressed with the play of the Raps. They got over the hump and improved from the way they’d been playing the last few games, but I still had a bit of a bad taste in my mouth. Snapping a streak is good, and a road win is a road win, but:

-         I did not like the usage of Bargnani, Moon, and Delfino all in the front court at once. I don’t care how small the other team is playing, it leaves our interior much too weak. Not to mention the defensive breakdowns that occurred when these guys were on together(Though Dixon was involved as well)

-         Without Anthony Parker regaining some form and getting key buckets, this probably would have been a loss.

-         The point-guards were effective at getting to the rim, and need to do so more often.

  Game Thoughts: Toronto at Chicago 

Another road win, and a big one at that. But still, I was very unimpressed, especially with the first half. The Raptors were simply sloppy, sloppy, sloppy, and it’s hard to imagine a team playing worse than the Bulls did that night. The Raptors have been applauded for their defense, and for not giving up open shots, but from the game I was watching, I saw plenty of missed jumpers from Chicago when they were wide open, as well as a few made ones.

Quick player wrap-ups:

Jamario, Jamario, Jamario: Sam Mitchell is unhappy with how much praise Moon has been getting, and I completely agree. This kid has still done nothing, and to me, he did not look nearly as good as the stats indicated. Did he have an impact? Certainly. Was it necessarily even a positive one? I’m not too sure.

He gives us a ton of energy and athleticism, but you can’t hide the fact that he makes mistakes, both offensively and defensively. Let’s not go overboard here. He hasn’t done anything more than earn a spot on the active roster at this point.

Chris Bosh: He has stepped it up, and looks very comfortable physically. He should be back to putting up consistent double doubles on most nights.

Rasho Nesterovic: He flat-out proved why he should be the starting center for this team. He just does so many things well, and his work on the offensive glass is very stellar.

Andrea Bargnani: Has this guy completely fallen apart the last couple games or what? It’s just a slump, but man, he needs to get back into things. He was such a huge factor in their first two wins.

Big game tonight for the Raps. Hopefully they can regain the form they had in the first 2 games of the year, get movement, make jumpers, and show tenacity on defense. They’re going to need to in order to contain a very powerful Jazz offense. Don’t know how much faith in them I have, seeing as I have no clue how they’re going to stop Boozer.

All that is not the point I’m trying to make. The point I’m trying to make is that if you’re Joey Graham, and your coach, the fans, and media have been on you for the past year or two, ever since you arrived in Toronto, are you going to want to be a point of emphasis on the court? Are you going to want the ball in your hands? Are you going to drive to the basket and crash the boards when Bosh is already there? He’s had difficulty finding his role, and it’s not unreasonable to think that he doesn’t feel he fits in well with Bosh, Ford, Parker and company. Maybe when they’re on the court, he’s simply deferring to them because he believes they’re better than him. Because he doesn’t want to screw up. So he drifts into the background and it’s hard to notice him until he does make a mistake.

Most of the flashes of brilliance we’ve seen from Graham have been in garbage time, with Humphries and Dixon out on the court. Not the stars. So maybe that’s where he fits in after all. Maybe it is too late for him to be the starting SF, but that doesn’t mean it’s too late for him to be an impact player. So when he comes back, give him the boost, and give him just one more try. He’s gotten many in the past, but maybe the chance they gave wasn’t the opportunity he wanted. I’d like to see Sam Mitchell say “Alright Joey, you’re our backup SF. I want you on the court leading that unit. I’m going to put you out there with Nesterovic, Humphries, Dixon, and Calderon, and you’re going to be the scorer. Show me what you can do.” I think and hope he would thrive, but I’m not going to say it’s a sure thing. He may struggle just like he has in other situations, but it’s worth a shot. He wasn’t a first rounder for nothing, and I’m not going to write him off as a sunk cost just yet.

Ending note: I’m not advocating that what happened here is all someone else’s fault. Joey can and should take responsibility as a basketball player, and as a member of the team. Many other guys would’ve been thick-skinned, persistent, and willing no matter what situation they were put in, and they most likely would’ve succeeded with his skills. He evidently didn’t have everything it takes to be star, but like I said, that does not mean he doesn’t have everything it takes to be an impact player.

For all the talk about how the second unit will beat up on the other team’s second units, one thing hadn’t been mentioned as much until after this one was over: All that doesn’t matter if your first unit gets beat even worse. And that’s what happened. Our top guys got blown out by a team that’s still a little low on talent. Just shouldn’t happen.

• Here’s hoping Joey Graham can return soon. As I pointed out about Kris Humphries, I think Graham would’ve been huge as well in wearing down Pierce or Allen. Joey seems to play his best when everyone else is falling flat on their face. Come to think of it, maybe that’s been his problem all along. Despite all his talent, he clearly has confidence issues, and it’s almost guaranteed that he wouldn’t think of himself as a top tier player. More on this coming up.
• Bosh and Bargnani are going to have their off-nights. Let’s hope their next one isn’t for a long time.
• Jamario Moon looks lost on the court. He’s got the talent, but at the end of the day he just isn’t ready for this. Whether it’s on offense or defense, he’s not at the same level mentally as the players around him. He may be useful as an energy guy and someone to close out blowouts, but he’s not a guy you’ll want on the court when you’re trying to make a run. Yet.

What I liked tonight, and I mean Chuck Swirsky:

This one’s almost too easy. Kris. Humphries. The guy was electric, and showed athleticism and ability far beyond anything I’ve ever seen from him. A couple of his moves one-on-one were positively Bosh-esque. This guy could turn into a lot more than anyone had anticipated. He needs to see a lot more 2^nd quarter action. The Raptors came into the year with questionable toughness on the inside, and questionable depth up front. With Bargnani, Nesterovic, and Humphries all off to great starts, this team may not have enough minutes to go around.

It may seem tough that the Raptors have to play a stretch like this so early in the season, but I view it as a blessing. This is a great test, and a fitting one. On the whole, the opponents are decent, though far from overwhelming.(@Milwaukee, vs Orlando, @ Philadelphia, @ Chicago). Stretches like this are there to push teams to their edge and expose their weaknesses. For the Raptors, this stretch will hopefully expose their strength. The depth about this team has been talked about over and over again, and here’s the chance to prove it. Sam: Use all your guys. Don’t wear out Bosh, because you don’t have to. We can beat Milwaukee, Orlando, and Philadelphia with our second unit on the floor half the night if all goes well, so give them a chance. And then it’s all set-up for the ultimate showdown in Chicago on Saturday night. That’ll be the great finale. After 3 games in 4 nights and flying in from Philadelphia the night before, can they push themselves to the edge and prove their strength, their will, and their might. If Bosh and Parker and Bargnani aren’t too drained during the week, there’s no reason they can’t come out and play strong against the Bulls. If the Raptors come out gassed and get smacked down, well, maybe were not quite as deep as we thought we were. Or maybe depth isn’t quire as important as we thought it was. But hopefully, us Toronto fans have the right idea and there is basis behind our optimism. We’ll find out this week.

The ultimate litmus test for the Raps. Here’s hoping we get the result we’re looking for. 

My personal view of the teams goals: Take at least 2 of 3 against the Bucks, Magic, and Sixers, and win in Chicago for a 3-1 week. If we take the first 3 but don’t play well on Saturday night against the (supposedly) best team of the group, I will be disappointed. Obviously, a 4-0 week would work too.

The Raptors and the Celtics! Chris Bosh! Kevin Garnett! Paul Pierce and Ray Allen! The star power was evident, but the main battle was clear: The Ceatles(Or simply the Big Three if you’re not a fan of ridiculously tacky nicknames) vs the Raptors depth. Pick your story, because this game had a plenty. Pick your reason to look forward to it, because the reasons were plentiful.

And then it started. And all of that excitement and all of those stories flew out the window; because this one was ugly folks. Right from the get-go, it failed to live up. The Raptors came out as tight as Lindsay Lohan. Oops. More like Chris Bosh’s knees. Ouch.

Anyways, the Raptors came out looking nervous, anxious, and lost. They were moving, but barely. Every early shot was a clanker, and every pass destined for the hands of a Celtic.

Luckily for the Raps, the Celtics didn’t come out too hot themselves. Possibly distracted by the death of Doc Rivers father that morning, or more likely just unsettled coming into their first road game of the year, the Celtics didn’t take advantage of the Raps shakes. They missed some shots, and didn’t really get into the offensive style they’d set out in some prior games.

In the end, the tone that was set early continued for the better part of 3 and a half quarters. Each team did loosen up a little, and each team had stretches where the shots were falling and they were playing respectable basketball, but to say either team played anywhere close to it’s best would be very misleading.

The game picked up in the final minutes, with the Raps making some big plays(Bosh and Ford were essential for the Raps, while Allen and Garnett lived up to the billing in the final moments as well) to get back in it and force overtime. But in the end, despite a game-saving 3 by T.J. Ford to tie it up with just 4 seconds left, the Celtics would strike the final blow as Ray Allen nailed a 3 at the buzzer. Garnett set the screen and Parker was unable to fight through it, leaving Allen wide-open on the baseline.

Some questions and statements about the game:

• The importance of the Raps coming out loose can not be understated

The Raptors are not always a perfectly fundamental team. When they’re at their best, they are a pass and shoot, free flowing offense. Obviously, coming out loose and relaxed is important for any NBA team. That’s when players perform at their best. It’s a hell of a lot easier to hit a jump-shot when you’re not even thinking about it than it is when you’re terrified of missing, or focused on every single mechanical maneuver of the shot. This statements holds true for every team. But it’s especially important for a team like the Raptors. And it showed in this game.

When you’re a team like the Spurs or the Celtics and you come out tight, you’re still going to be able to force your will on your opponent and stick to your game-plan to keep the game close, even if the shots aren’t falling and the passes aren’t crisp. Ginobli’s jump-shot isn’t falling? Well, he can find a way to get to the bucket and grab a foul. Or he can dump it in to Duncan and let him do his thing. Duncan coming out cold is possible, but Duncan coming out cold and still not being able to put up some points is another. The reason these guys succeed in these situations? Well, it could very well be that they are just more fundamentally suited to the NBA game, and can slow down that half-court offense and force it into becoming a downright power struggle.

Take the Celtics for instance: Even though they looked a little tepid early on, they got easy buckets around the basket. Ray Allen made a driving layup, and got to the free throw line for a couple of shots. Kevin Garnett also made a nice layup, and hell, even Kendrick Perkins was getting in on the action with a dunk and a tip-in. Those buckets went a long way to establishing the game in the Celtics favour early on.

What did the Raptors do when they came out tight? Well, they jacked up jumpers that missed, and missed, and missed, and missed some more. They shot 7-25, an astounding 28%. In doing so, they got just one layup, and didn’t get to the charity stripe once. Doesn’t sound like they had much of a back-up plan does it?

The only real option as far as fundamental, Americanized tough-guy basketball goes is Chris Bosh posting up or trying to drive to the rim. The problem is, Bosh has proven that he’s not always effective early in games. This occurs most when the other team starts off by double-teaming him. He has trouble getting anything to fall because he’s forced into taking somewhat wild shots, and if the refs aren’t in his pocket, points don’t normally come out of it. So what should he do in those cases? Pass the ball out and find the open man for a jumper. But, the problem here is that I’m talking about times when the shots aren’t falling. So really, just shoving it in to Bosh doesn’t necessarily provide a solution, and I’m not sure what else does. But someone needs to figure it out.

So here’s my plea to the Raptors: Do your absolute best to come out loose and ready for every game. Don’t be nervous, because it’s just basketball. Easier said than done, and I have no idea if it’s even possible to come out free-flowing 100% of the time, but nonetheless, something to work at and find out. And if you do come out like you did against the Celtics, try some different things, make some adjustments, mix and match, give Parker a post-up for all I care, but don’t just keep jacking up shots while watching the game slip away.

• Sam needs to get guys off the floor quicker

The first unit simply wasn’t cutting it in this one early on. So MOVE to the 2^nd unit. They had 6 POINTS through 8 MINUTES. I’m not John Hollinger, but I’m preettyyy sure that’s not very damn good.  Look, if you want to leave them out there to see if they can find a rhythm, that’s fine. But then what happened: They actually went on a burst for the next 2 minutes, and how did Sam respond? By pulling them. This was truly mismanagement at it’s finest folks. If you want to leave them out there til they find it, leave them out there after they actually do. Personally though, I would’ve had those guys yanked after 4 minutes. We have depth for a reason.

• Why the hell wasn’t Kris Humphries used?

Kris Humphries is one of the most energetic guys on this team, and this was a game where we desperately needed some energy. He could’ve attacked the boards and kept the team going. Maybe he would’ve come out just as cold as everyone else, but you have to try right? I know he would never be defending Garnett, or being defended by Garnett for that matter, but having him inside slamming guys around and pushing for boards could’ve really helped to wear down the frontline of the Celts. In a game where Boston’s Big Three combined for 139 minutes, I really think we could’ve used as many guys out there wearing them down as possible. Maybe if Humphries and Moon had seen the floor and sparked the team, Garnett and Allen would’ve been a little more tired come overtime, and might’ve missed a couple of those key shots. Although that does disregard the possibility that with them in there overtime might not have occurred. We might’ve lost in regulation, or won in regulation. But when you end up losing the game, and half the Raptors fans were screaming for changes from their TV’s during the game, I think it’s safe to say it would’ve been nice to see what would’ve happened.

Overall, a disappointing game from the Raps, but hey, it’s only one loss versus one of the best teams in the league. It shouldn’t be too hard to put this one behind us.

Did we just witness the Raps play a flawless game? Did they just exhibit a high powered offense and a relentless defense for a full 4 quarters? And in the 2^nd game of the year no less! Against a supposedly half-decent opponent!! I watched the game, and I’m reading the box score as we speak, but I’m still not sure I believe it.

I know I seem rather negative, and I may not have been as high on the team coming in as others around the city, but I don’t think anyone could’ve expected a start like this. Two games is two games, but I can safely say I’ve never been this excited about a Raptors team, and I can also say that this performance against the Nets may be the best I’ve seen them look. Ever.

Let’s start with the offense: Jason Kapono is fitting in very nicely, not trying to do too much but still making his shots as expected. Bosh was still a non-factor early on, but he did look a little more comfortable than in game #1. Parker doesn’t seem to have the offensive pizzaz he had last year yet, but it’s coming back too.

And then there’s Andrea. The kid is flat-out exceeding his game from last year in every single aspect. Everyone was high on this kid coming in, and I doubted. I was wrong. So far. Do I still think Nesterovic is a better fit to start the game? Well, that’s a mighty tough thing to say at this point. Bargnani may struggle defensively, but he’s putting points up at such a rate that it easily compensates for it. His stroke looks rock-solid and it’s incredible how confident and relaxed he looks. He’s still at the point where he’d prefer to be taking a jumper, but he’s driving the lane 95% of the time that they’re giving it to him. Last year, it seemed more like 50%. That being said, I’m still torn because Rasho played such an outstanding game as well. In fact, though this certainly wouldn’t be popular opinion, you could make a case for Rasho being the most important single piece in the 2^nd quarter when the Raps made their run. Him and Bosh were simply taking EVERYTHING away inside. They were locking down the key like I’ve rarely seen the Raptors do. Bosh was using nice technique, and if they weren’t blocking shots(They combined for 5 in the game, a very nice total), they were redirecting them. It forced the Nets into a situation where all they had was the outside shot… and the outside shot simply wasn’t falling.

I was very glad to see Mitchell use the entire bench again. A lot can be said of the way he kept the Bosh, Bargnani, Delfino, Dixon, Calderon group on the court for so long in that 3^rd quarter, but he was clearly just going with what was working and was enjoying throwing the smack down. Nothing wrong with that every now and then. If it becomes a habit, that may be a problem because he’s got the players to spread the minutes with, but he even admitted after the game not realizing that it was so out-of-hand. Anyways, as long as no one’s eclipsing 35 minutes and all 12 guys see the floor, it’s pretty much impossible to argue he’s pushing anyone too hard.

The Raptors are shooting a ridiculous percentage through two games, especially from three-point range. But here’s the thing: There’s no reason they can’t keep it up. Well, 58% from long-distance obviously isn’t going to happen, but when you look at the movement they’re getting and the shooters they have, it’s not a stretch to see this team easily leading the league in 3-point percentage. The only thing that hurts them is that they take more of them than a lot of teams, but either way, no harm taking them if you’re making them.

 What I liked tonight, and I mean Chuck Swirsky: 

I’m going to try and stick this into every ‘Game Thoughts’. In Raptors wins, or maybe even in losses, I’ll save the most impressive aspect for last. In last night’s game, this was what took the cake: (I don’t even like Peter King. But I love his Tony Kornheiser joke. So be it.)

The Raptors tenacity on defense despite already owning an insurmountable lead. After the Philly game, I complained that they didn’t really show that lock down defense, a defense that can really gut it out and get stops when the opponent’s are grinding down each and every possession. Well, it didn’t take long for them to answer my cry. The previously mentioned group of Bosh, Bargnani, Delfino, Dixon, and Calderon gave everything they had on each defensive possession in that 3^rd quarter. I wrote how rare it was for teams to maintain a 20+ point lead without the other team making some kind of a push. Well, I may be mistaken but I’m fairly certain the Raptors maintained a THIRTY-plus point lead without the other team making a push. And you can talk about how poor the Nets offense was all you want, but they had their stages where they were hitting contested shots. If the Raptors had given them uncontested ones, I’m sure they would’ve made a lot more. The Raptors fed off each other and off of their lead, trying and trying to push it as high as they could. It almost became a little bit of a game in itself – The “Let’s see how bad we can murder these guys” game. But it’s games like these, games where you play that game, that you can build your defensive confidence and get into that zone that every team so desperately needs. So next time the Raptors are playing the Pistons with a 3 point lead with 5 minutes left in the game, they can look back on this game and realize they have it in them. It’s indescribable how important that is to a team.  

Other bullets:

• Watching the highlights from last year’s playoff series is just plain painful. Sometimes you see those pre-game highlights with the music blaring and it jacks you up. Highlights of your franchise’s toughest playoff defeat ever just makes you want to throw up.
• You have to be somewhat impressed by Bargnani’s English. He barely misses a beat when being questioned in somewhat-speedily spoken english, though he still has slight problems expressing himself. If he’s going to be the star we all want him to be, rising up to Chris Bosh level, the language side of things is going to be very important. Hopefully he keeps improving. And hey, it can’t hurt on the court either.
• Is it just me or do announcers thinking they know what goes on in every on-court conversation piss you off too? When a player and a coach are standing on the sidelines talking, it DOES NOT necessarily mean the coach is emphasizing the point that the announcer just made in the god damn booth. All the analysts out there make a point, and then assume the coach is making the same one just to make themselves look good. Unless you’re reading lips and it’s clear what he’s saying, please don’t try and tell us what it is. You have no better idea than we do.
• Andrew Bogut not only looks a million times cooler with his head shaved… But I also have actual confidence in him as a basketball player now. He actually looks like he belongs on the court. Hate to judge guys like this… but I can’t shake the truth
• Not many had the Pacers as the team that was really going to gel as a group and come out of nowhere in the East, but they’re looking pretty darn good. Any road win is a good one.

The Raptors have it in tough against the Celtics tomorrow. The talking-heads can question the Celtics point-guard and bench til they’re blue in the face, but the fact of the matter is that these guys LOOK GOOD together. I did not think that Garnett, Pierce, and Allen would mesh so quickly, but they are. They certainly have a long way to go to winning a title, but if the pre-season and the first game of the year are any indicator, these guys are going to continue to get better and better. The Raptors were unable to slow down Garnett at all in their first pre-season game, and that has to be priority number one. Allen and Pierce can take all the jump-shots they want, but letting Garnett get the ball in the post creates a dangerous situation.

Back on Monday morning with another edition of Game Thoughts.

This game looked as much like a typical Raptors game as you’re going to find. The flow of the game and the way it was played shows exactly who we are as a team:

 -         A deep, deep team that has 12 guys capable of making an impact on any given night.  

Sam Mitchell played all 12 guys, and I’m glad he did. Conventional wisdom says that you need an 8-9 man rotation with set minutes to be an elite team in this league. I feel like if Mitchell finds the right combinations, that doesn’t have to be a case. I enjoy seeing all twelve guys see some playing time, especially early in the season. Later on, if it’s becoming apparent that a couple of guys are dragging the team down and not fitting in, go ahead and sit them, but last night I didn’t see a single guy who looked out of place. Garbajosa did admittedly look a little slower and just about as confused as I’ve ever seen him on both ends of the court, but he’s not exactly a guy you think should be riding the pine all year. I’d like to see him slowly bumped up to 15-20 minutes a night and see how it goes. A big part of his struggles might’ve been due to him playing with the second stringers. Most of his action last year came with Bosh and Parker on the court.  Either way, Mitchell has said that 12 guys seeing action won’t be an every-time occurrence, but I hope he keeps giving everyone a good look. These November games are important, but the true test of this team comes in April. With all the talent the Raptors have, I think they can afford to fiddle around for a couple months. If it creates an extra couple of losses, it will still be worth it if it goes towards finding the perfect balance by the end of the year.

 -         A talented offensive team that can flat-out score to the tune of 58 points in a half almost at will.  

This might be a slight overstatement, but at the same time, with guys like Iguodala and Dalembert, Philadelphia is far from a disaster on the defensive end of the court. It’s hard for anyone to contend with a team that has 4 guys on the court who shoot the ball as well as Bargnani, Kapono, Parker, and Ford do. They all looked gelled, and obviously Bargnani continues to show flashes of absolute dominance. I stated earlier that I’d still prefer to see Nesterovic starting, and I’ll stand by that for now, but there’s no doubt Andrea’s a difference maker on the offensive end. I’ll argue that most of his points would be scored by someone else if he was on the bench, but I can’t say that they’d ALL be replaceable.

 -         And an out of sync defense that fails nearly every time when the opposition begins to grind out the game and push them hard on every possession.  

Surrendering leads is a part of basketball. It’s rare to see a team hold onto a 20-point lead all game without the other team making some kind of a push. I’m not going to start spouting bullshit phrases like ‘Defense holds leads and wins games’, because we all know that regardless of the score, offense and defense always carry the same weight. But when you’ve got a defense that can be taken advantage of the way this one can, well, it puts a lot of pressure on the offense. The Raptors are far from a terrible team on the defensive end, in fact, statistically they’re very solid. But the 76’ers exposed a huge hole, mainly the way we can be attacked relentlessly and not hold up against teams that are going to do all the little things on the offensive end. When teams get away from taking quick jumpers and actually run down the shot-clock, it’s very easy to get a high percentage shot against us. Eventually, our holes open up and someone misses an assignment. When the 76’ers were making their comeback, they were doing this type of thing on EVERY POSSESSION. It’s unrealistic for a team to do this for 48 minutes, because it takes such a toll on you as an offensive player, but at the same time, if a team comes along that the Raptors can’t pull away on, there’s a decent enough chance that they’re going to pull away on us come 4^th quarter.

So my final take: The guys played pretty darn well. They came out ready to go and the shots fell because of it. This is an extremely fun team to watch and seeing these guys put on a show for the home opener is a pretty cool thing. At no points during the game, even when we held a couple one-point leads with just minutes left did I feel we were in jeopardy of losing. It’s nice to have that kind of confidence in your team, and it was put there by each and every one of their 47 wins from last year.

Some other quick-hits:

• Definitely not a fan of the new introduction music. I’ll take Rage over Kanye any day of the week. But more than that, I’d like a song that’s a little bit faster and a little bit harder. Inspiring lyrics are great and all, but if I’m a basketball player, I want to be running onto the court with some rock pumping through the building.
• A little odd seeing Calderon and Ford’s lines for the game. It would seem a little more appropriate with their numbers swapped. But either way, they both looked effective and efficient on the court, so no complaints.
• What’s with all the talk of Andrea Bargnani being emotionless? I really thought this had been put aside last season, but apparently not. Look, the guy may be fairly “blank” when it comes to standing in the huddle or walking onto the court, but when someone makes a big play, you can see it on Andrea’s face as well as anyone elses. He’s got a mean streak when he’s on the court, and it’s probably my favourite thing about him. The guy can be damn intense.
• Why the media is still using standard Points-Per-Game and Points-Per-Game-Allowed when determining where a team ranks amongst the league is beyond me. Looking up Offensive and Defensive Efficiency stats isn’t that hard boys…
• It’ll be interesting to see the ratings come Sunday. I don’t remember the last time CBC had a Raptors game.(Edit: It is indeed the first NBA game ever televised on CBC). Hopefully the possibility of such a wide audience will spark some interest and maybe grab a few people who wouldn’t normally give TSN or SportsNet a look. Though with “Football Armageddon!!!!!!” cutting into the second half of the Raps game, it may not get the attention it deserves from most sports fans. Ratings from the Score for the opener were about 126 000, edging out last years opener.

Have to love this quote from Sam Mitchell

  “Like I told the coaches, it took me a while to adjust to Carlos because … it looks like he’s laid back the way he plays but he really is playing hard. I’m a different type of personality and I told the coaches early on, make sure it’s not me because it could very well be me and what I want a guy to look like but you have to be who you are, as long as you get the job done.” If anyone can figure out what the hell that means, let me know.  

East

1. Chicago Bulls, 55-27
2. Detroit Pistons, 54-28
3. Boston Celtics, 52-30
4. Miami Heat, 44-38
5. Toronto Raptors, 48-34
6. Cleveland Cavaliers, 45-37
7. New Jersey Nets, 43-39
8. Orland Magic, 43-39
9. Washington Wizards, 41-41
10. New York Knicks, 39-43
11. Atlanta Hawks, 37-45
12. Charlotte Bobcats, 34-48
13. Milwaukee Bucks, 34-48
14. Indiana Pacers, 29-53
15. Philadelphia 76’ers, 25-57

West

1. Dallas, 59-22
2. Phoenix Suns, 56-25
3. San Antonio Spurs, 56-26
4. Denver Nuggets, 51-31
5. Houston Rockets, 55-27
6. Utah Jazz, 49-33
7. New Orleans Hornets, 42-40
8. Los Angeles Lakers, 39-43
9. Golden State, 37-45
10. Portland Trailblazers, 36-46
11. Memphies Grizzlies 34-48
12. Sacramento Kings, 33-49
13. Minnesota Wolves, 31-51
14. Los Angeles Clippers, 29-53
15. Seattle Supersonics, 23-59

The goals from around the fanbase and the organization are fairly simple; win a playoff series. We’d all love to see them as top-flight contenders, but those thoughts may be slightly premature. As long as a team is improving each season, it’s tough for anyone to complain, and winning a playoff series would be a definitive improvement no matter how you look at it. Whether they struggle during the year, or excel themselves to a top seed in the East, judgement time will come in April.

Missing the playoffs entirely would be a downright disaster, and a huge step-back for the franchise as a whole. If we make the playoffs and lose in the first round… then there could still be some debate as to the success of the season. If they play well all year and show improvement by beating some of the top teams(such as Chicago or Detroit) then draw a tough first round opponent and wind up on the losing end, they’ll still have their critics, but it would still be some form of progress. If they continue to struggle against the top teams, don’t show any signs of closing the gap, and THEN lose in the first round? Once again, it would be tough to swallow.

So what do I expect from the Raptors this season? What are the keys to the season?

We’d all love to be able to coach an NBA team. We follow our team and think we know every right move to make. We scoff when Mitchell or whoever else does things we disagree with, and we gloat in self-congratulations when he does what we’re thinking. And on that note, you’re all wrong! Clearly Mitchell and every one of the fans is nowhere near as enlightened as me, so I’m going to offer up my infallible words of wisdom.

The Raptors season hinges on so many different things. Chris Bosh’s knees, Mitchell’s ability to designate the playing time, and each individual player showing up ready to go and playing well, along with a slew of others.

Some of those things are outside of anyone’s control, such as the health of the team. But many of them aren’t.

Here are my keys to this season:

 How Sam Mitchell does at managing the rotation: 

Sam Mitchell proved last year that in most cases, he is a good motivator of players. So as far as we know, everyone will come in opening night and be ready to go hard. He also proved that he could effectively manage a very deep team and distribute the minutes with some success. However, with two new faces who are going to be looking for consistent minutes, and the developing or regressing play of players from last year, the job should prove to be an even bigger challenge. There are innumerable combinations of players that can be on the court at one time, and seemingly a million little battles at each position, so breaking it down and seeing what works is going to be tough.

What I would do:

• Well Sam and I already see differently on the starting rotation. As I’ve mentioned, I would prefer Nesterovic in there to Bargnani. Although when it comes down to it, as Mitchell loves to point out, it’s not the starters that matter, it’s the minutes.
• Keep giving Calderon his share of minutes. I’m going to give my Ford/Calderon thoughts later, but the bottom line is that Calderon is an extraordinary talent and the Raps excel when he’s on the court. He needs to be on the court.
• Don’t be afraid to make substitutions early and often if a wing player is not shooting well.  We have so many talented wing players who can shoot the ball, and riding the hot-hand is never a bad idea. Too often in the Morris Peterson era he was left in there. I realize that this may hurt a players confidence, but with this many options, it may help instill the idea of “team” that is so important to our success.
• Give the Calderon/Ford on-at-the-same-time-experiment one more shot. It’s hard to give these guys the minutes they deserve, and so Mitchell sometimes experimented putting them both on at once last year. It didn’t work very well, but early in the season against some weaker teams, I think it’s worth trying again and hoping they find a way to gel.
• Find the combinations that work. Certain players did not work well together last year, and there’s really different styles that don’t mesh. The Raptors have such an odd game because Bosh is option number one, and his style is really quite different then the build of the rest of the team. He works much better with Ford than Calderon, while Calderon works well getting open shots for guys like Bargnani and Parker. Make sure this is running smoothly.

   How the Raptors deal with the press clippings:  

Motivation is a huge component of any team’s success when you’re talking about a grueling 82 game schedule. The negative predictions around the league should help to deal with the motivation factor on the Raps. Teams that play the disrespect card come with a chip on their shoulder, and the Raps can unite around the idea of proving the doubters wrong.

At the same time, if they do come out strong the public opinion can swing very fast. Not that I see this happening to this group, but history has shown that teams who start buying into themselves a little too much get hurt in the long run.(2003 Lakers, every Pistons team of the last 3 years..)

 Can key players take the extra step: 

If Andrea Bargnani takes the leap most feel he will, that’s yet another deadly weapon that they didn’t have last year. Bargnani was good last year and he put up his share of points, but if he can do it while earning 30 minutes a night on the defensive end, that’s an extra 10 minutes of production from a talented, talented man.

Calderon took such a huge step from his first year to his second, and that kind of improvement for a second year in a row would be almost impossible. But I do believe that there’s a chance he hasn’t FULLY adjusted to the NBA game and that his play might continue to slope upwards. Imagine if the point-guard play actually IMPROVED this year.

Chris Bosh is Chris Bosh, and he’s already established himself as one of the best in the league. Personally, I think his offensive game is maxed out, but you never know. Maybe a little extra veteran savvy could have him boosting his numbers yet again. And, as mentioned in his player preview, if he improves defensively, it could add something the Raptors desperately need and help them compete against the bigger inside teams.

Humphries, Graham, and Delfino: The three others who I think have a small chance at taking a step this year. Humphries and Graham improving is almost a given, but it could be to an almost negligible extent. If either proved he’s worthy of 20 minutes a night, it’d be yet another boost. And, Delfino, though being hailed as a ready-to-go commodity, really hasn’t proven anything thus far in his career. Any consistent play from him would have to be viewed as an “improvement” of his former self, even if it’s just a reflection of opportunity.

  Overall Projections: 

I love this team. I think they’re going to be very difficult for most teams to handle. The depth is sick, and working the other team’s bench into submission should be a nightly occurrence. The camaraderie this team has and the fun youthfulness they display on the court is a joy to watch. I see things going very well, though I still think they’ll have their rough nights. The longer a team is together, the better they gel, especially defensively. They need to work hard on the defensive end to keep in games with some of the tougher teams, and I don’t think they’re quite there yet. If Colangelo can get them some help on the interior, they should be a wrecking crew next year in what will primarily be this groups 3^rd season as a whole. 

Projection: 48-34, setting another franchise record for wins.

He is the undisputed leader of this team, and needs to show it once again this year. Last year during his first trip to the playoffs, things didn’t exactly go his way. He struggled to adjust to the Net’s swarming defense, and played by far the worst stretch of basketball I’ve seen him play in the last 2 years. He got frustrated and tried to force a lot of things on the court. Not exactly what you want out of your “leader” in a crucial playoff series. That being said, he has shown to be a strong, smart, and dependable basketball player, and one bad series isn’t going to compromise his role on this team. He will be the one getting guys in early, and staying in late, when it comes to practice. He is a role model and the other players on this team should follow by example.

Offensively, he’s got a great diverse game. He is the first option for the weapons, and he makes other teams cater their defensive game plans around him. In the post, he must continue getting better at identifying double teams and passing the ball out before he gets himself into trouble.

Teams are starting to put smaller, quicker defenders on Bosh so that in isolation he has trouble getting around them. They will normally give him space and allow him to take some mid-range jumpers early on. This is easily the best strategy to use against him. If Chris isn’t hitting his jumper early, he is sometimes taken out of the game much more than the Raptors would like. If he is hitting the jumpers, it forces the defender up into his face, and his quickness will normally get him to the basket on some nice drives. He needs to work on finding ways to get to the basket even when the defender is giving plenty of cushion on the times his shot is not falling. I think his best option in cases like these is to try and do some post-ups before he gets run in isolation again, in order to get some confidence back and perhaps get his stroke going from the free throw line.

Defensively, he comes up with some highlight reel rejections every now and then, but he still has a long way to go to becoming a complete player. He needs to be a little quicker in help, but most of all he needs to continue to do his best to be physical. He shows a lot of physicality in rebounding, and you can tell he’s trying, but he still struggles with his technique and commits too many fouls. Whenever he tries to be physical in one-on-one defense, he ends up committing a foul and then becomes more and more timid. He and the coaching staff need to figure out a way to use his size appropriately, get him playing with his hands straight up, and when possible bumping his man to get him out of rhythm. If they feel to do that, they need to get him more help in the paint in the form of double teams – obviously not the ideal solution, but against certain teams you’d rather take your shot with them shooting jumpers than pounding inside for layups and easy floaters.

Andrea Bargnani – He undoubtedly has the skills and ATTITUDE to be a prime-time scorer in this league. His three point shot is nasty and he continues to improve at getting to the basket and showing his creativity around the rim. He’ll benefit from a lot of Bosh double teams and get some open shots, either behind the arc or hopefully closer to the basket. It is imperative that he not fall too much in love with the three pointer, because the closer he is to the basket, the more he can do to help the team get high percentage shots. You can never have too many shooters on the floor, but playing with Kapono and Parker, he may be slightly better served in working in-tight, allowing him to create with his unique passing skills. The shots fall easier when the defense collapses and there’s a kick out involved, so Bargnani kicking it out to an open Kapono for the 3 pointer should be more effective than Kapono, Ford, and Parker kicking it around to Bargnani for an outside shot.

The biggest problem for Andrea, and it has been well publicized, is his rebounding and toughness around the basket. He has the potential, and I love the attitude I see from him on the court. He definitely has it in him. He also has the body size as he’s put on some muscle over the summer. However, it takes more than just strength and toughness to make a good rebounder and interior defender. Bosh will most likely always be taking the tougher assignment on the defensive end, whether that means him playing against a center or power forward, but Bargnani will still have some tough assignment against some teams. Him being in his second year, I really doubt his ability to learn this quickly about the proper techniques. It takes time to learn the craft, and normally the most skilled rebounders and defenders are guys who have been around the league for 5-10 years. There’s no doubting he has the potential to get there, and the coaching staff seems very optimistic and are showing a lot of confidence in him by giving him the starter’s role. In this case, I think that confidence may be slightly misplaced.

Jason Kapono – When it comes down to Kapono and Delfino, most Raptors fans are going by what we’ve heard, not what we’ve seen. Though I’m sure most of us have caught glimpses of these guys in certain games during the year and during the playoffs, to try and predict how these guys will fare or what kind of players they’ll be is a difficult task. You can throw around terms such as “sharp-shooter” and “slasher” all you want, but when it comes down to it, we have no idea how these guys will fit into this system. Basketball is such a team sport, and the Raptors play it so much as one, that we may see a very different Jason Kapono than we did in Miami. Obviously you want to fit your game-plan around the skills of your players. It would be silly to bring in a team of plodders and then try and run an up-tempo game. But at the same time, sometimes when entering new environments, certain skills that players have can find a way to pop up, even though you didn’t see those skills in his previous work. The Raptors may decide that they see something in Kapono that’ll work, that Miami either failed to see or didn’t need.

In the end, chances are Jason will be a nice perimeter player who uses the skills of the other guys to get open shots and knock down three’s. That’s mostly what we saw in the preseason. But the preseason is about finding something that works, that gels, and the product we see during the year may be very different from what we saw in most of the pre-season.  Until I actually see him on the court with this set of guys in a regular season game, I don’t feel informed enough to comment about his exact contributions.

Carlos Delfino – The same story applies here as it did to Kapono. I don’t think we’ll know exactly how he’s going to do and what he’s going to contribute until we have a good chunk of regular season completed. He seems as a good fit as aplayer who won’t try and do too much, but still isn’t afraid to take his shot or make his move when he’s confident with it. And that’s exactly the key to fitting in on this team. There is no room for players who try to over-extend themselves, but at the same time, players need to have some confidence and some ability to do their thing when the opportunity presents itself. Whether it’s making that long jumper, or driving through an open lane that pops up, I do have a fair bit of confidence that Delfino will fit in nicely and be a good asset to this team.

Anthony Parker – In a lot of senses, Parker was the glue that held this thing together last year. He was 2^nd in minutes, 3^rd in points, and 4^th in assists. Though he did miss ten games, we was normally durable and was a rock during times of the year when things weren’t exactly going right(ie: When Bosh was out). He could shoot, he could pass, and he even drove to the basket on occasion. He is the prototypical Raptor and obviously replaced a lot of what Mo-Pete brought to the table, only he added an extra bit. Peterson, when Bosh and others were healthy, was pretty much a stand-up jump shooter. Parker’s “intangibles” however are through the roof, and he has a very high “basketball IQ”. (Normally, I avoid such clichéd and useless terms because normally, they mean nothing and the observation is more based on race or appearance than it is on actual fact. With basketball, I feel these terms are more useable and more meaningful, and I do believe they work in the case of Parker, as well as Garbajosa(But only because he’s Spanish of course!)).  Anyways, he sets screens, moves without the ball, and knows when to rebound and when to get back(Though the vast majority of the time his role is to simply get back).

Defensively, he has a grit and natural ability, and is always the man taking on the star players of the league. Whether it’s LeBron, Wade, or Pierce, Parker finds a way to hold them in check despite quite often defending someone of an entirely different build. He’s also quick on his rotations and knows what spot to be on the floor. Easily our best defensive player.

Jose Garbajosa – Much of what was said about Parker can be said about Garbajosa, despite their obvious differences in physique and game. He’s smart, and in the words of the Swirsk, his basketball IQ is indeed “through the roof”. Offensively, he can knock down mid-range jumpers all day long, and he’s even shown some flashes of improving his range in the pre-season. He also seems to be a strong offensive rebounder, though the number’s don’t show it. Either way, he’s always around the loose ball and knows where to be on the court.

Defensively, he again knows where to be, but his limited physical ability leads to him being at best an average defender. He cannot guard many quick players straight-up, though he does a good job on slower, or lankier players(Tayshaun Prince is an excellent example of someone he defends well).

Rasho Nesterovic – I love Rasho. I think he brings an enormous amount to the table. Though I think the thought of needing to have “guys who’ve been there” come post-season is a little overrated, he’s still a good solid veteran presence who’s got some game left. He’s still our best interior defender(Which may say more about the team than Rasho himself), and he’s got the ability to put the body on some of the bigger guys in the league. I believe that for this season we’d be better off with him in the starters role once again, but he seems happy to take whatever role is needed of him. Offensively, he still brings a few things as well. He’s got a very nice touch, especially on his hook and his floaters. He’s a good offensive rebounder, and he stays in there battling the other team for possession as well as anyone else on the team.

Last year in the playoffs there were times when the Raptors hit a wall and seemingly had nothing in the tank. Rasho was always the exception. He made countless crucial offensive rebounds and baskets for them when nothing else was going right. If he brings that relentlessness and timing again this season, he’ll prove once again to be a very key and underrated component of this team.

Kris Humphries – What to say about Kris Hump? He’s a solid guy, works hard, and plays tough. A very unique individual on this team because of his build. At 6-9, 235, few can measure up pound for pound. Statistically, he’s the best offensive rebounder on the team, but many of those came in garbage time and against other teams second or even third front-court unit. Nonetheless, he showed tremendous strides towards the end of last year and figures to have a somewhat more prominent role on the team this time around. He fights, he battles, he bruises, and Mitchell has rewarded him.

My only problem with Hump is that he sometimes tries to do too much on the offensive end and takes away shots from more skilled players. Here’s my advice: Kris, if you get an offensive rebound that’s great and all, but instead of trying to force it up between three defenders, kick it out and have Calderon reset the offense.

Joey Graham: Known simply as Joey G, this first rounder has been a fun, frustrating, unnerving, and utterly endless debate. From about halfway through his first year, everyone started to see a big problem: consistency. The word has been thrown around so much I’m pretty sure it’s lost all meaning.

Here’s my take on this endless debate(Although admittedly, it will end at some point… (God be willing). Joey Graham is a good, solid player. I like seeing him on the court. Does he always produce and fill up the stat sheet? No. Does he always look like he’s playing hard and using his athleticism to it’s full potential? No. But I do believe he fits on this team, and I believe he fits on the court. I think because he’s so physically gifted people don’t see what he’s doing on the court, they see what they WANT him to be doing. Watching him over the past 2 years, I think his play, inconsistent or not, is an asset to this team. I think he’s a solid 2^nd-line small forward who can come in and contribute every night. And just because we feel he has the potential to do more does not mean we have to turn a blind eye to what he does already bring.

Maybe someday he’ll be a 30-minute a night guy for some team, and may be he won’t. But, does it really matter? Do we have the right to absolutely cream the guy? Do we even know for sure he’s capable of being what everyone seems to think he is? Just because a guy is capable of making an athletic rebound, drive, or dunk does not necessarily mean he’s capable of being a star NBA player. And I don’t mean because he might not have the heart, the will etc… as everyone else is suggesting. Ask Jamario Moon how far his obvious physical talent got him the first 27 years of his life. Can we really cream the guy for having poor basketball sense on the court at this stage in his life? We may as well be creaming Kris Humphries for not being able to shoot 3 pointers, or Mugsy Bogues for not being able to dunk.

For the most part, I do agree that he has the makings of a good NBA player, but I’m not going to sit at home and berate him if it turns out he doesn’t. He needs encouragement, not condescension. Whether he makes it or not, I fully hope the Raptors keep him and I’m glad they picked up his option for the 2008-2009 season. Two more years to see what he’s got. After that, all bets are off, but in the meantime, there’s no need for talk of trading him or cutting him. He wouldn’t fetch a lick in a trade anyways.

Juan Dixon:  I’m not sure how much I liked the Freddy Jones trade. I like Dixon and think he’s a solid sub, but I also think he have enough of what he brings. Jalen Rose and Mike James are gone for a reason. He can shoot and he can penetrate, but when it comes down to it he takes too many low-percentage shots instead of passing it away to guys who may create high percentage ones. All that being said, he’s got talent and if he can further buy into what the team is doing, he’ll fare very well this year.

I liked Freddy Jones because I think he brought something the Raptors desperately need. Though he brought it moreso in style and potential than in actual substance, he was a guy who could get to the rim. This teams perimeter players(apart from the point guards) really do not do very well at driving the lane, getting to the basket  and opening up shots, and that’s a very key part of offense in the NBA. Those type of players are very helpful when the other team is stacking the perimeter and the shots aren’t falling.

Jamario Moon: Everyone seems to be going head-over-heals for this guy, and it’s easy to understand why. He’s a slim but very athletic man who can get to the basket, and he’s got a decent shot on top of it all. I’d prefer leaving him inactive/on the bench for this year and letting him hone his actual NBA game through practices, but if he gets garbage time that’s fine too. I believe he’s a nice toy to have stashed away for next year, but I doubt he makes a significant contribution in 07/08.

Maceo Baston and Darrick Martin: A simple word sums up both of these guys: meh.(Credit my mastery of journalistic skills on that one). Both guys figure to see close to zero action this year. But, I’ll say something regardless: Darrick – You seem to be a tremendous individual, and I believe you can still play more than a lot of people do, but it is indeed time to hang it up and take an assisting coaching position. Maceo – Work hard, keep at it, and you may see some game action. If not, keep it up regardless

I’m thinking they both care, and really took those comments to heart. Don’t sweat it guys, that’s just how nice I am. Really, I care. But more importantly, NBA CARES. I have no idea what I’m going for here. There’s a joke in there somewhere, there really is…

My take on Jose Calderon and T.J. Ford will be coming in a post later on this week, as well as breakdowns of the jobs done by Sam Mitchell and Bryan Colangelo respectively.

Up next: My overall outlook on this season