The Salami & Cheese

Goodbye, Hedo.

2010-07-16T11:58:00.000-07:00

July 9th, 2009: One of the happiest days of my life.

Hedo Turkoglu was now a member of the Toronto Raptors. Everything seemed swell in Raptorland. After all, Turkoglu was a major reason why the Magic made the finals in 2009, and his impressive season would only carry over to Toronto, right? The Raptors would now become a major force in the Eastern Conference. 5 years, $53M? So what? No defense and all offense? I don't care. I mean, it's Hedo Turkoglu. Hedo quickly embraced the fans, organization and city, claiming he "loved Toronto because of its diversity". We loved him, he loved us.

July 14, 2010: The best day ever.

Hedo Turkoglu was now a member of the Phoenix Suns. Hedo's annoying, don't give a damn tactics are now out of Toronto and are left for someone else to deal with. Hedo Turkgolu didn't live up to expectations at all, and actually made Raptor fans cringe every time he got the ball. Sure, we knew the mask refusing, "ball" saying, cap busting, no effort, skip game then go to club the same night Hedo, but Raptor fans unforuntetly never got to see the Hedo everyone around the NBA got to know back in his Orlando days. That Hedo never showed up. The sad thing is, he made $10M for doing absolutely nothing other then cause embarrasement and humilation to a team that wasn't in that good of shape in the first place. Blame Bryan Colangelo all you want for the terrible signing, but at the end of the day, Hedo was a big reason why the Raptors didn't make the playoffs. He didn't care. He didn't even like us. He skipped a game because of a "stomach virus", but was spotted clubbing later that night, then had the nerve to he wanted to leave the team because he got benched for the incident. What a joke. Hedo Turkoglu went from being one of the most loved athletes in the city, to the most hated in less then a year. I'm not sure what I find more funny--the fact that Hedo failed to live up to every expectation placed on him, or the fact that the Phoenix Suns are willing to take on his massive contract. Good luck, Phoenix.

Keep in mind...this is the same person who raved about Hedo one year ago. I fell immediately in love with the guy. I believed he'd make the Raptors a serious contender in the East, and fill a gaping hole in the frontcourt. It turns out, he didn't do that. He made every Raptor fan including myself, look dumb.

On that note, so long Hedo. Take your annoying tactics and get as far possible away from Candada as possible. I guess Phoenix, Arizona is far enough.

Raptors re-sign Amir Johnson

2010-07-02T10:50:00.000-07:00

Amir Johnson, the Raptors sixth man and energy guy, is staying put in Toronto. Johnson inked a 5 year, $34M deal according to his agent, Kevin Bradbury.

It was widely believed that Johnson would return to Toronto, although he looked at four other teams before signing the deal. Considering Chris Bosh is all but gone, along with the fact that both Johnson and the front office wanted a long term deal, this contract makes sense for the future.

Johnson, who primarily backed up Chris Bosh last season, averaged 6.2 points and 4.8 rebounds in a little less then 20 minutes per game last season.

At first glance, it looks like Bryan Colangelo overpaid for talent yet again. But after looking at some expert analysis, as well as crunching my own numbers, this contract isn't as ridiculous as some may think. For one, Amir made $3.9M last year. Since Bosh will likely be leaving Toronto, Johnson will be playing in a bigger spotlight with more minutes. If Amir played as good as he did in only 19 minutes per game last year, he'll play even better with more extended minutes. According to 82games.com, Johnson's per 48 minute production at the power forward position were 19 points and 13 rebounds per game. Eric Smith posted an interesting tweet last night, which also proves this contract isn't as ridiculous as one might think:

Amir made $3.9 mil last year. He was getting a raise. More minutes/bigger role coming. Agent surely sold 'upside' & 'potential'..so he got, on average, about $6.8 mil now. Would you have been happy with $5.5 mil? 'Cause I guarantee you he was... going to get at least that. So, are you going to lose sleep over roughly $1 milion (maybe less)?

This contract has the "if" factor written all over it. IF Johnson can add more dimensions to his game...IF Amir can play as good as he did when Bosh wasn't on the floor...IF Amir can realize his full potential, and realize he's much better then his Detroit Pistons days... IF Amir can understand his new role, realize the heavy expectations set on himself. If Amir can fulfill these obligations, this contract works out. Otherwise, Bryan Colangelo will have another Hedo Turkoglu on the team, and the BC bashing will only get stronger.

All in all, I'm happy for Amir. I'm glad he'll have another shot in Toronto, and he'll get the chance to be the Raptors starting power forward. Let's just hope Bryan Colangelo has a few more tricks up his sleeve.

So long, Chris Bosh

2010-06-30T11:00:00.000-07:00

After years of talk and speculation, the 2010 free agency period is just 8 hours away. In other words, the Chris Bosh era in Toronto will end in 8 hours. Raptor fans, media, and even front office people are under the impression their 5 time all-star won't return to Toronto--hell, Bryan Colangelo admitted it's "likely" his franchise player will sign somewhere else. Given the latest speculation, and Bosh's recent comments and tweets, I've come to the realization that my favorite NBA player, the guy who I grew up idolizing, the guy who I defended when my friends mocked, won't return to the Raptors next year.

I still remember the day Bosh was drafted. I was only 9 years old, but felt a special connection to the tall, lanky forward. After witnessing Vince Carter turn his back to the country that praised him, I began to realize that Bosh would be the face of the Toronto Raptors franchise and I'd be watching him in a Raptors uniform for years to come. Bosh soon became my favorite NBA player--I'd buy his jersey, shout his name out when I attended games, pretend I was him when I shoot hoops in my driveway...you get the idea. I felt a stronger and better connection with Bosh, compared to Vince Carter. I don't remember a whole lot from Carter's Raptor days because I was very young. With Bosh, I can distinctively remember every minor detail during his playing days as a Raptor. He represented everything a positive athlete possesses. Whether it was donating a few million dollars to his foundation, or setting basketball camps in Dallas and Toronto, my admiration towards Chris Bosh was much deeper then basketball. Bottom line: Chris Bosh was a role model to kids like myself.

Chris Bosh made the Raptors a relevant team in the NBA. He was the reason the Raptors won their first and only Atlantic Division title in 2008 and allowed the team to make three consecutive trips to the playoffs. I'm not going to mention how the Raptors failed in the playoffs, because that's not the point of this blog - I'm here, not to bash our franchise player, but to celebrate his legacy, and show fellow fans how I'm feeling during a sad time in Raptors history.

It's a shame that such a good story will have such a tragic ending. It appears as though Chris Bosh has no intentions of returning to his hometown of 7 years, and has been continuously hinting that he's had a plan in place for a couple months. The first hint at Bosh leaving came at the end of the season. The Raptors finished a disappointing 40-42, and missed the playoffs thanks to a late season collapse. My suspicions grew when Bosh posted a tweet on Twitter saying "Been wanting to ask. Where should I go next season and why?". He later corrected himself, and posted a new tweet asking "Ok... Let me rephrase the question. Should I stay or should I go?". Nowadays, athletes can make headlines by the tweets they post. Bosh's hints have grown more frequently, and have caused shockwaves throughout the Raptor community. In fact, rumors have circulated that a sign and trade deal is in the works, which would send Chris Bosh to the Miami Heat for Michael Beasley, Mario Chalmers and Joel Anthony. Although some media outlets believe this deal is dead, it certainly gives indication that Bosh will be playing his basketball in the United States next year.

I'm going to be one of the saddest people in the world tomorrow. Not only will my idol of seven years no longer be with my favorite team, but my favorite team's future will be in serious jeopardy. Without Chris Bosh, how successful will the Toronto Raptors be in 2010-2011? Michael Beasley, who looks to be involved in a potential sign and trade for Bosh, will have huge shoes to fill, and I'm not sure if he can. If the Raptors acquire Beasley, Chalmers and Joel Anthony, the Raptors free agency options will be limited since the team will be over the salary cap. If the Raptors have any shot of even making the playoffs next year, Bryan Colangelo must trade way Hedo Turkoglu, Jose Calderon, or other big contract players in order to bring in proven veterans.

So let this be my farewell goodbye, Mr. Bosh. Thanks for all you've done--both on and off the court. Although I was able to attend one of your basketball camps, kids who look up to appreciate your charismatic personality, and enjoy the fact that you give back to the community. Thanks for putting the Toronto Raptors back on the map. After Vince Carter left, the Raptors seemed irreverent and weren't looked at as a good team. Thanks to your efforts, the Raptors gained more recognition. Thanks for giving me something to look forward to three our four times a week, when the Raptors play one their regular season games. Thanks for the signing my photo when I attended the Raptors-Nets game this past December, and thanks for giving me a high-five as you walked into the locker room--I didn't wash my hand for a looong time. Thanks for signing my "First Ink" DVD when I pre-ordered a copy on your website. Thanks for being the greatest player in Raptors history with stats to back it up. Thanks for giving 100% effort on every play--both offensively and defensively. Thanks Chris. Thanks a lot. Wherever you sign, I wish you the best of luck. I hope you get something you didn't get in Toronto--a ring. I hope you get better supporting cast, whether that support comes from LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, or another superstar free-agnet. I know I'll be first in line to get tickets when the Raptors play your new team. When Herbie Kuhn announces your name, I'll applaud loudly--because I know a superstar deserves better then an average, Canadian team. Your years of service deserve loud cheers and clapping hands. Trust me Chris, I'd leave Toronto if I was in your position as well.

When I wake up tomorrow morning, I'll look to my right side wall and look at my Chris Bosh fathead. When I turn around, I'll see my Chris Bosh scoring title plague. I won't take either of them down. Rather, I'll cherish them for years to come, and think to myself...yeah, he was something, wasn't he?

Recapping the Raptors Draft Night

2010-06-25T13:19:00.000-07:00

To many peoples surprise, the Raptors drafted Ed Davis with the 13th pick in last nights draft. Davis measures in at 6'10, and played his college basketball at North Carolina for two years. According to mock drafts, Davis was supposed to be drafted in the top 10, hence why he never worked out with the Raptors. He wasn't supposed to go #13, and that's why the Raptors drafted so well at their position. After being drafted, Davis tweeted (@eddavis32):

Thanks for all the support Toronto fans. I'm hella excited to be part of a great city and organization.

Going into the night, I expected the Raptors to draft Cole Aldrich, Xavier Henry or Patrick Patterson. Aldrich and Henry went 11 and 12 respectively, and the team passed on Patterson because they believed "Davis was the better player".

After last year's draft, Chad Ford believed Ed Davis could be the #1 pick in this year's draft. Unforuntatlely, injuries and underachieving forced him to slide in the draft. Davis averaged 13.4 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.8 blocks in 27.9 minutes last season at UNC. He was forced to sit out the last 13 games of the year with a wrist injury. Both Jay Triano and Bryan Colangelo believe the only reason Ed Davis slid in the draft was because of the injury, but both say the wrist is "fully healthy". Colangelo expects Davis to particapte in the Las Vegas Summer League in a few weeks. Here's his scouting report:

Positives

• Active big man

• Plays even bigger because of excellent length

• Motor runs very high

• Excellent rebounder on both ends of the floor

• Good shot-blocker

• Effective scorer from about 12 feet and in

Negatives

• Needs to add strength

• Needs more experience, playing limited minutes right now

Many believe Ed Davis is Chris Bosh's replacement. With free agency only one week away, it's getting more and more likely that Bosh won't re-sign with Toronto. Both Davis and Bosh play the same position are approximately the same height. When asked if Davis was Bosh's replacement, Colangelo claimed, "I'm not going to sit here and tell you that I'm confident that Chris is coming back, that's why a selection of Ed Davis at this spot is one that looks to be the right piece". By drafting Davis, this means the Raptors won't need a big man in return if the Raptors do a sign and trade with Bosh. I'm guessing they'll address another big concern, the backcourt. One of the biggest reasons why the Raptors underachieved last year was because of their backcourt issues--the team could get a substantial upgrade by signing and trading Bosh.

The Raptors also traded away a future 2nd round pick and cash for the 50th overall pick in last nights draft, Solomon Alabi. Alabi is a 7'1 center who played 2 seasons at Florida State. Alabi, who was supposed to go in the upper teens/lower 20's just hours before the draft, scared away GM's after discovering he had some potential health issues. He averaged 11.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks last season.

Overall, I believe the Raptors had a very good draft night. I believe with time, Ed Davis will complement Andrea Bargnani nicely, and will fix the defensive issues in the front court. Solomon Alabi was another steal in the draft, because he wasn't supposed be drafted 50th overall. The Raptors are now prepared for life with or without Bosh, and can address a different position in free agency.

Previewing the 2010 NBA Draft

2010-06-22T13:45:00.000-07:00

Bryan Colangelo is preparing to embark on the most important off-season of his career. With Chris Bosh set to become a free agent in just 9 days, Colangelo must do whatever he can do keep his franchise player in Toronto and keep the Raptors relevant in an ever-so increasing NBA market. However, thanks to media reports and speculation, experts believe Chris Bosh will leave Toronto in a sign and trade deal. On the contrary, fans like myself are trying to be as optimistic as possible and pray every night that Bosh stays in Toronto. As far as I'm concerned, these media reports are nothing more then rumors, and Chris Bosh is the only person who truly knows what he'll do in free agency. Although I'm only 16 years old, Chris Bosh is someone who I've looked up to since he was drafted in 2003. It's going to be an extremely hard pill to sallow if Bosh leaves, and it's going to even harder to watch the Raptors fail next season without their all-star. These past three years have been stressful for me, because as a Raptors fan, it's disappointing to see my team underachieve year after year. Needless to say, this upcoming summer will determine Chris Bosh's fate. As of right now, Bosh will leave Toronto for another team--back when Bosh was giving his season ending press conference, he admitted changes need to be made in order for him to stay in Toronto. Unfortunately, as a fan, all I can do is sit back and wait for the pieces to fall in place. I can't dictate what Bosh and/or Colangelo do in the coming weeks, and I certainly can't control where other free agents sign.

The Raptors' off-season officially starts on Thursday, where the team will have the 13th pick in the NBA Draft. For fans of the NBA like myself, the NBA Draft is one of the biggest, most important days of the year. It's the first step in a very long off-season, and is a great opportunity for teams to improve or build their roster at an inexpensive cost. Granted, the 13th pick won't sway Bosh one way or the other, but it's the first step in a series of (hopefully) many more steps.

I've always been a believer that the Raptors should trade the pick for a veteran. In my opinion, adding a veteran would be more appealing to Bosh, compared to a unproven rookie. Although the Raptors probably couldn't get a significant stand out veteran by trading the pick, I believe by facilitating a package deal, a player deserving of attention would land in Toronto. However, media reports suggest the Raptors will indeed draft a rookie.

The Raptors have many presentable opportunities at the 13 pick. Since Colangelo has indicated he wants to trade either Jose Calderon or Jarrett Jack, the Raptors could go the point guard route, and draft a point guard who could fix the defensive issues in the backcourt.

NBA Insider Chad Ford has had the Raptors drafting Texas' guard Avery Bradley in several of his mock drafts. Bradley was #1 on ESPNU's Top 100 back in 2009 (which also included John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins and Xaiver Henry). Here's his scouting report, from ESPN.com:

Positives

• Explosive scorer

• Very quick

• Long arms

• Wiry strong

• Big-time vertical leap

• Terrific first step

• Good midrange shooter

• Lockdown defender

Negatives

• Undersized for his position

• Lacks NBA 3-point range on his jumper

Notice how he's a lockdown defender. He's defense would certainly fix the Raptors defensive issues. However, he is a 6'3 shooting guard, so the fact that he's undersized doesn't help his case. Bradley was scheduled to work out for a second time for the Raptors, but backed out because of an ankle sprain. The ankle sprain, according to reports, will end his workouts but should be healed in time for summer league. Chad Ford's newest mock draft, which released earlier today, has Avery Bradley going #17 to the Chicago Bulls. I'm guessing his stock has fallen because of the injury.

In today's mock draft, Chad Ford has the Raptors selecting Patrick Patterson from Kentucky. Although Patterson had a decent year at Kentucky, he flew under the radar because he played alongside guys like John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins. Patterson, who is a 6'8 power forward averaged 14.3 points per game and 7.4 rebounds last year. Unlike Wall and Cousins, Patterson declared for the NBA Draft after his junior year. Here's his scouting report:

Positives

• Long, athletic big man

• NBA body and strength

• Explosive leaper

• Excellent shot-blocker and rebounder

• Good finisher around the rim

• Has range on his jump shot out to 15 feet

• Plays physical in the paint

Negatives

• Lacks ideal size at the 4

• Needs to be in better shape

• Still very raw with his low-post moves

Why does Chad Ford believe he'll land in Toronto?

"The Raptors could go in a number of different directions here. With Bosh likely out the door, Hedo Turkoglu pining for a trade and the team shopping Jose Calderon, you can expect the team to look radically different next season.

Finding a center is atop GM Bryan Colangelo's list. If Bosh leaves, he'd like to move Andrea Bargnani to the 4. But of the top big men left on the board -- Orton, Whiteside and Solomon Alabi -- none of them is close to being ready.

The Raptors have been looking closely at Avery Bradley, but their inability to find a trade for either Calderon or Jarrett Jack makes taking Bradley a risk. So look for them to focus on the best big man left on the board: Patterson. He may not be a flashy player or filled with upside, but he is tough, plays hard and will be solid at the next level. At pick No. 13, that's all you can ask for. Think of him as this year's Tyler Hansbrough".

Although I wouldn't mind Patterson, my ideal draft choice would be Cole Aldrich. Considering I'm a Kansas Jayhawks fan, I had the pleasure of watching Aldrich throughout the college basketball season, and I loved what I saw. Aldrich is a 230 pound, 6'10 center who can cause havoc in the paint. Aldrich averaged 11.3 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks per game in 27 minutes of play time last year. Here's his scouting report:

Positives

• Very skilled big man with soft hands

• Good basketball IQ, tough

• Solid perimeter shot

• Solid rebounder and excellent shot-blocker

• Excellent passer for a big man

• Soft touch on his jump shot

• Shooting range extends all the way to the 3-point line

• Better athlete than you think

Negatives

• Questions about his motor

• Not particularly explosive or quick

• Not great in the transition game

I love Aldrich's game for a number of reasons. For one, he's a beast down low on both offense

and defense. He nearly averaged a double double. He averaged 3.5 blocks per game, thanks to his freakish 7'4 wingspan. He's NBA ready and could be an impact, whether coming off the bench or starting. Most importantly, he's a center. Last season, Bargnani and Bosh didn't have the defensive tools to cause problems in the paint--Aldrich would certainly fill that need.

Aldrich had his second workout today at the ACC, along with West Virginia's Devin Ebanks. Bryan Colangelo hinted today that he is pursuing a second first round pick.

Thursday marks the beginning, of a very long off-season for the Toronto Raptors. Buckle up folks, this is going to be one hell of a ride.

The List

2010-05-22T14:57:00.000-07:00

Chris Bosh's agent, Henry Thomas, has told the Toronto Raptors that he's narrowed his list of preferred teams down to five, two sources told ESPN.com's Chad Ford. The list--which includes the Rapto, Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers, and New York Knicks (in no particular order) was given to management in case Toronto wants to construct a sign and trade deal (assuming Bosh doesn't want to re-sign with the Raptors). Contrary to belief, Bosh has no interest in signing with one of his home town teams in the state of Texas, or the up and coming Oklahoma City Thunder.

"It's been narrowed down to handful of teams, including us", Bryan Colangelo told the Toronto Star without providing more detail.

Of the four teams (not including Toronto), I believe the Lakers present the most interesting sign and trade scenario--the Raptors have shown great interest in both Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol. However, a source said "If the Lakers win the NBA title, I think the chances of them shaking up the roster goes down dramatically".

I also believe the Knicks could be a likely destination for the all-star. Like Bynum and Gasol, the Raptors have shown interest in David Lee, who will very likely leave the Knicks. Beside these two teams, I can't imagine the Raptors facilitating a deal with the Heat or Bulls--neither team presents a good enough player for the Raptors to acquire in return. Yes, the Raptors could land Taj Gibson or Joakim Noah from the Bulls, but sources believe that's highly unlikely.

A sign and trade would be beneficial for both the Raptors and the team Bosh may sign with. The Raptors will get a player in return, and Bosh would get one more year and more money on his contract.

The source also said that Bosh's decision hinges on where LeBron James signs. "If LeBron decides to go to either New York or Chicago, I think that's where you'll see Chris land," the source told Ford. "If LeBron stays in Cleveland, I think the process is more wide open."

However...

Bosh and his agent have denied the report, and claim a list hasn't been given to the organization. "Why would I do that?" Thomas said about the wish list. "We're still in a process of evaluating a lot different situations." Thomas also said that Bosh is not committed to a sign-and-trade deal.

I personally don't believe this report for one minute. Bosh and his agent have definitely given a list to management, and Bryan Colangelo has been quoted saying the report is indeed true. Given the fact that Bosh is denying the report, along with his Twitter incident a few weeks ago, I think it's safe to say Bosh won't re-sign with Toronto. I don't blame him for wanting to leave, but as a Raptors fan, it's very disappointing to see his Raptors tenure (possibly) coming to an end. However, it appears that if Bosh departs Canada, the Raptors will get something in return. Bosh and Colangelo have agreed to "work together" regardless of Bosh decides to do.

July 1st, the day free agency officially begins, is only 41 days away. Cross your fingers, Raptor fans.

Podcast Interview with the James Borbath

2010-05-21T16:56:00.000-07:00

While it's still a tough pill to sallow, the Raptors reality has finally hit me. Obviously, the Raptors had a very disappointing season, and it took fans like myself a while to digest and regroup.

The Raptors first official off-season move happened on Tuesday, as us fans found out the team will draft #13 in June's draft. Although it's debated if the Raptors will draft a rookie or trade it veteran, it will nonetheless help shape the off-season.

I was foruntate enough to have a phone conversation with my buddy James Borbath earlier today. James is the writer of the Dino Nation Blog and is a big reason why I decided to create this blog. He's showed me that, although it takes vigorous work, anything is possible. James and I frequently interact with each other,weather it be through Twitter or Facebook. I appreciate the friendship the two of us have developed. You can follow James on Twitter, @dinonationblog. Hopefully, I can get more my "Raptor family" on the Salami & Cheese in the near future.

James was kind enough to record a podcast with me earlier today, as we discussed the past, present, and future in Raptor land.

Episode 2

Kevin Hooker's Podcast

Reality Check

2010-04-11T09:36:00.000-07:00

The Chicago Bulls will travel to Toronto tonight in what is a must win for both teams. The Raptors, 38-41, currently hold the 8 seed in the Eastern Conference. The Bulls are also 38-41, but hold the 9 seed because the Raptors clinched the regular season series between the respective clubs. Needless to say, this is a very important game for both teams. If the Raptors win, they basically clinch the 8 seed (because there's only 3 games left in the regular season), and if the Bulls win, the Raptors will have to dig deep to come back from a 1 game deficit.

While this a crucial game, it's also a pathetic game. Considering both teams are 38-41, the fact that one of these teams will make the playoffs just shows how terrible the Eastern Conference is. Hell, the 8 seed in the Western Conference is 48-31. Tonight's game is almost like a "battle of the bad's"--the winner has nothing to be proud of, nothing to brag about, and should feel a sense of disappointment. The fact of the matter is, both the Raptors and Bulls failed to live up to expectations.

As a die hard Raptors fan, I'm just sick of this. I'm 16 years old and can't vividly remember a successful season since 2006-2007, and I only have flashes of the 2001 season when Vince Carter missed the game winning shot that would have...well, you know the rest. The truth is, I'm sick of mediocrity. Going into the season, I had really high hopes for the Toronto Raptors. When they were a season best 31-24 in February, it seemed my predictions were right, and that finally...FINALLY the Raptors would be relevant once again. But then it all fell apart--the Raptors were playing back to their old ways of terrible defense, less-then-stellar coaching, and decisions that made you get off your couch and yell at your TV "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" I was the happiest man in the world on the night of October 28 after the Raptors beat the Cavs in the season opener. And now, just 6 months later, I'm embarrassed and ashamed to be a fan. Nothing positive has happened this year. Hedo Turkoglu has been a huge disappointment, Jay Triano has been questionable as a coach, Andrea Bargnani still needs a lot of work, and the team defense is an absolute joke. I knew the Raptors defense would be bad, but I didn't think it'd be 27th worst in the league and give up nearly 106 points per contest.

I'm just too bummed to be motivated for the game tonight. Because the fact of the matter is, weather it's the Bulls or Raptors who get the 8 seed, neither team will beat #1 seed Cleveland. Cleveland is just too good, and could sweep either team in a 7 game series. I understand why Raptor fans are excited for the game tonight, but if you actually look back and reflect, you'll realize how disappointing the Raptors have been--they shouldn't even be in this position.

Because of the trade that sent Jermaine O'Neal to Miami (another one of Bryan Colangelo's genius moves), the Heat will take the Raptors first round draft pick the first time they MAKE the playoffs. This essentially means the first year the Raptors make the playoffs, they won't have a first round pick. Because of this, part of me thinks: why bother making the playoffs if you're going to get a 4 game sweep AND miss out on a first round draft pick? At least Chicago will have a first round pick regardless if they make the playoffs or not. Now, I know the goal every year is to make the playoffs and win a championship, but I think it's better to think long term in a situation like this. This year's draft class is so deep, the Raptors could land a very solid rookie with the 12th or 13th pick. So in a sense, I want the Raptors to MISS the playoffs, in an effort to make a big splash on draft night. I've been criticized for this belief by fellow fans, but trust me: when Toronto sacrifices drafting rookies like Kansas' Xavier Henry or Kentucky's Eric Bledsoe (just to name a few), to get swept in the playoffs, you'll understand my train of thought. When June 25 rolls around, and the Raptors don't have a first round pick, you'll wish we didn't make the playoffs. Trust me, you will.

Don't look at this and think I'm not a fan. I'm a HUGE fan. I'm just giving all the fans, including myself, a reality check, which may be difficult to absorb. And the reality is, the Toronto Raptors aren't a very good team.

But needless to say, it'll be an exciting game tonight between the Bulls and Raptors. Be sure to check out the game tonight at 6:00 on TSN. Even I'll be watching.

A Must Win

2010-03-24T13:36:00.000-07:00

Before I get into the details of this write up, let me start out by admitting something: I was wrong about this team. Every prediction I made back in July has been completely wrong, and every negative that I thought wouldn't be a problem has been. The Raptors have been a huge disappointment this year (at least in my eyes), and I'm very sad to be a fan. It's like a big budget movie with an ending that goes nowhere--sure the hype was there, but at the end of day, you left the movie saying "Eh". Contrary to my belief a few months ago, I think it'll be a miracle if Chris Bosh stays in Toronto. Based on his post game interviews lately, he seems miserable to be wearing the Raptors uniform, and wants to on a winning team. I've got to give credit to Bryan Colangelo for attempting to revive this team, but he, once again, came up short. But on that note...

The Raptors are in a position I thought would never be possible--on the cusp of missing the playoffs. Their 35-34 record is bad enough for the 8th seed and is just 2.5 games better than Chicago, who is on the outside looking in. But as bad as the Raptors have been, they're only 1 game out of the 6th seed--which is currently vacated by the Miami Heat.

The Raptors face the Jazz tonight, which is a game I consider a "must win". For one, the game is at the ACC, and just like my basketball coach tells me, "no one can beat you on your home floor". The Raptors are 7-4 at home against West Coast teams, and have an overall record of 23-11.

Secondly, the Raptors must bump up in the standings. An 8 seed, even a 7 seed, will mean a 5 game series at best. With the 6 seed, the Raptors at least have a shot of beating either the Hawks or Celtics in a 7 game series (but I'm begging it's the Celtics). And most importantly, the Heat travel to Chicago tomorrow night, which I'm guessing will be a Heat win. The Raptors can't afford to fall 2 games behind. I haven't said this all year, but it now needs to be said: The Raptors NEED this win.

Given how tight the 6-8 seeds are, every game is significant. The Raptors must take advantage of these last 13 games, and move up in the standings.

For once in a very long time, I want a reason to smile over this team. I'm so sick of losing.

Following March 14's loss against the Warriors, Chris Bosh called out his teammates, saying:

"Time is ticking and it's counting down, and if we keep playing the way we are right now, we're going to be on the outside looking in. Guys need to step it up, period."

You heard the man. Let's go Raptors.

I've Been Exposed As a Raptors Fan

2010-03-14T14:34:00.000-07:00

About 8 months ago I was the happiest man in the world. The Toronto Raptors were making so many moves, and it appeared they would finally be an upper echelon team in the Eastern Conference. When the Raptors signed Hedo Turkoglu, I was smiling from ear to ear. I'll never forget it. Considering all the moves, I, along with the experts, believed the Raptors would be a 5 seed, maybe a 4 seed in the Eastern Conference come playoff time. I made a bold prediction of a 51-31 record, and possibly an Eastern Conference Finals reach. Yes, maybe these were biased predictions, but nonetheless...I had very high expectations for the Raptors in 2009-2010.

On February 19th, the Raptors defeated the Wizards 109-104, and improved their record to 31-24. Although that's just a so-so record, it appeared the Raptors were turning the corner and would only get better. But since then it's been....well, not what I thought. The Raptors are losers of 8 of 9, now have a 32-32 record, are the 8 seed in the East, and are just 1.5 games away from being out of the playoffs. Could it be? Could the Toronto Raptors really not make the playoffs? We're not talking about a 4 or 5 seed like I predicted, we're talking about not making the playoffs?? Damn. I was way off. Now granted, the Raptors are only 2.5 games out of the 5 seed, but nonetheless. Having a record of 35-32 and a 5 seed isn't because of talent, it's just because the rest of the conference is so bad.

Last night's loss to the Warriors put me over the edge. Considering how bad the Warriors are (18-47), and how much the Raptors are playing for, it was very upsetting to see how flat the Raptors came out in the second half. Chris Bosh wasn't shy to vent his frustrating following the loss:

Although those are harsh words, Bosh is spot-on right. The coaches can preach all they want, but that means nothing come game time. Chris Bosh can dominate all he wants, but the Raptors won't be successful if he doesn't get the back-up support. It's because of this, along with his obvious frustrations, that I'd be surprised if Bosh re-signs. Bosh is an all-star, and he deserves a lot more than an average, first round playoff exit (if the Raptors even make the playoffs) team. Now, I could be wrong (because as you can see, I've been wrong before), but this team needs to start winning if they have any shot of keeping their superstar.

Is Bryan Colangelo overrated as a GM? While I applauded his off-season moves, they haven't made the team better. Yes, the Raptors have a deep bench. Yes, trading for Amir Johnson was a brilliant move. But his biggest acquisition, Hedo Turkoglu, has been a huge disappointment. Turkoglu is making roughly $10M this year, and he's playing like a pile of garbage. I knew Turkoglu was overpaid, but I didn't think it'd be this bad. Given Colangelo's failures over the past three seasons, could his job possibly be on the hot seat? I personally don't believe so, but just the thought of it shows how badly the Raptors and Colangelo have failed this year.

You know what sucks about all this? I, as a die-hard fan can't do anything about it. I can throw my couch pillows at the television and curse my brains out, but that's about it. I can't join the team or scream at the personnel--I can only sit back, and witness losses to teams like the Warriors (18-47), Kings (22-44), and Sixers (23-42). It's very embarrassing to be a Raptors fan.

The Raptors west coast trip ends tonight against the Blazers, and I'm guessing their record will slide to 32-33. When's this nightmare going to end?

Raptors take on the Lakers tonight

2010-03-09T12:56:00.001-08:00

How ironic--the last time I blogged was when the Raptors stunned the Lakers at the ACC. Going into the night, I thought the Raptors had no shot of winning, but somehow found a way to prove me wrong. I couldn't stop smiling. I couldn't believe the Raptors won.

Now, 44 days later I feel the complete opposite. Sure, the Raptors went on a hot streak and were 7 games above .500 at one point, but now they're on a cold streak at the worst possible time. The Raptors have lost 5 of 6, hold a very average record of 32-29, and have slid to the 6th seed in the Eastern Conference. Chris Bosh has been injured during this span, but nonetheless--since the All-Star break, the Raptors have lost momentum when I thought it'd be opposite. The Raptors have let their opponent score over 100 points in each of the 5 losses, and 4 of them have been in front of the ACC crowd. Home is a place you never want to lose--but 4 straight times? Come on.

What I'm saying is, this isn't just another slump--this team has drastically fallen back down to Earth, and it doesn't look like they'll be rising up anytime soon.

I know it's been said and said, but I'll say it (well, write it...) one more time: If the Raptors have any shot of keeping their All-Star (if you don't know who I'm referring to, please stop reading this), they need to start winning now. I truly believe Bosh will stay, but only if the team is successful. I don't want another first round exit, and I'm guessing CB doesn't either. If the Raptors lose 4 of 5 games without Bosh, isn't that a sure tell sign that this team needs him?

And guess what? The Raptors are in LA tonight to face the Lakers. So just like I said 44 days ago, I'll be shocked if the Raptors win tonight.

Raptors edge Lakers

2010-01-25T11:32:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since my last blog post. Why? Because the Raptors have been extremely streaky, and have been hovering over that .500 mark for the last few weeks--one win, won loss, two wins, one loss, etc. With the way things have been going, and with my crazy schedule, it's hard to keep the blogging a constant.

But I felt very inclined to do a write-up following last night's win. Last night's win wasn't just any ordinary win--it was a win against the Los Angeles freakin' Lakers. That's right. The 33-10 (now 11) Lakers. The team that has Kobe Bryant, who dropped 81 points on us roughly 4 years ago. You know...the Lakers.

I'll admit it--going into last night's game, I thought the Raptors would get completely blown out. In fact, I tweeted "hope for the best, but expect the worst". I honestly thought the game would be out of reach within the first 24 minutes. But as the game progressed, there was no blowout. In fact, it was a close game the entire 48 minutes. To start out the 2nd half, the Lakers went on a quick 7-0 run and saw their halftime lead of 2 increase to 9. Sure enough, I thought the Lakers would be clear sailing from there, and gradually increase their lead. But sure enough, the Raptors battled back.

Although the Lakers held a small lead, both teams kept exchanging baskets. It wasn't until a the 7:33 mark in the 4th quarter when the Raptors took the lead.

You know the rest--Turkoglu got fouled with 1.2 seconds left, made both free throws to go up by 1, then Kobe misses the game winner. Raptors win. Unbelievable. Un-freakin-believable.

Chris Bosh had just another day at the office--18 points, 13 rebounds. But it was the role players who were the most impressive--Jarrett Jack had 18 points, and Andrea Bargnani dropped 22, hitting some BIG shots down the stretch.

But in my opinion, the player of the game goes to Marco Belinelli. In 23 minutes, Belinelli had 15 points and shot 3 of 3 from downtown. Did I mention how important a bench is? Thanks Colangelo.

A crowd of 20,111 was at the ACC last night, in what was a playoff atmosphere type game. God, I wish I was there.

If this doesn't give the Raptors confidence, I don't know what will. The Lakers are the defending champs and have the best record in the NBA. The Raptors are now 23-22, and are about to hit the easiest part of their schedule. This is a perfect time for the Raptors to do some damage in the East

Before yesterday's game, Chris Bosh said "I haven't been this encouraged in a while". I can only imagine how he feels now.

Previewing the next 3 games

2010-01-01T14:14:00.000-08:00

The Toronto Raptors are winners of 5 straight, and now hold a poor-but-I'll-take-it record of 16-17. Granted, the schedule has been on the lighter side, but 5 straight wins is 5 straight wins. The Raptors now hold the 6th seed in the Eastern Conference (what a terrible conference).

The 2010 year is now upon us, and that means a clean slate for the Toronto Raptors. The disappointing 2009 season is a thing of the past, and its time to start fresh. As far as I'm concerned, every team in the NBA has a record of 0-0. So who do the Raptors "open the season" against? The Boston Celtics. Then the San Antonio Spurs. Then the Orlando Magic. Yikes.

Now, your first thought is probably "loss, loss, loss" right?

NEGATIVE:

The combined record of the three teams is 65-27. The Raptors have already played the Spurs and Celtics once and the Magic three times, and have lost all five games by an average margin of 11.2 points. The one time the Raptors played the Spurs, the Spurs put up 131 points without Tim Duncan and Tony Parker.

The Magic and Celtics games will be played on the road (the two best teams). The Raptors are 5-12 away from the ACC.

Hedo Turkoglu is doubtful for tomorrow's game against Boston. Jose Calderon didn't even make the trip.

The Spurs have won 4 straight.

And most importantly--the Raptors are 16-17. The Celtics, Magic and Spurs are 23-8, 23-8, and 19-11 respectively.

Based on this, the Raptors have absolutely no shot, right? Well, I did some more digging, and found some information that may actually change your mind.

POSITIVE:

The Celtics were winless on their 3 game road trip, losing to the Clippers (at the buzzer), Warriors, and Suns. Rajon Rondo, Kevin Garnett AND Paul Pierce won't play tomorrow night. That means Chris Bosh will go up against Rasheed Wallace, Brian Scalabrine and Shelden Williams. I sense domination.

The Spurs will be without Matt Bonner and Michael Finely until mid-January. When the two teams met in early November, Bonner and Finely had 18 points and 7 points respectively.

During the 5 game win streak, the Raptors defense has been allowing 89.8 points.

And did I mention the Raptors have won 5 straight?

Look--I'm not saying these next three games are guaranteed wins, but with the recent play, as well as injuries on the counterpart, there's reason to believe the Raptors can win at least two of three games. I can definitely see the Raptors beating Boston. I truly believe the Raptors can turn the season around, and start playing like expected. But if I've learned anything about this team, it's that they can rip my heart out right after giving me hope.

Hopefully, the year 2010 will the Toronto Raptors better days. It all starts tomorrow night against Boston.

Raptors at the Christmas break...

2009-12-25T10:27:00.000-08:00

Whoa. What happened to the S&C? This site has been inactive for the past 20 days, and recent news hasn't been updated. But my school and basketball schedule has been very hectic (thanks coach), so it's hard keep up with the news in Raptorland.

So what's happened in the last 20 days? A winning streak, then a losing streak, and now we're back on the winning side. Typical right?

The Raptors defeated the Richard Hamilton-less, Tayshaun Prince-less, Ben Gordon-less Pistons on Wednesday 94-64. I don't care how injuried the team is; allowing 64 points by a terrible defensive team is impressive. The Raptors are now 14-17 and winners of 3 straight going into the Christmas break.

The Pistons scored 27 points in the 2nd half of Wednesday's loss, and shot a Raptor-defense best 28% from the floor. The Raptors have held their last 3 opponents to an average of 83.6 points....Good morning defense. About time you woke up.

Jarrett Jack has filled in nicely for the injured Jose Calderon. In the last 3 wins, Jack's been averaging 15 points and 7.6 assists in just 29 minutes (thanks again for addressing the back-up point guard position, Bryan Colangelo. Can you imagine if Roko Ukic was still our back-up?).

Maybe the schedule is a little easier, but nonetheless. Here's a team that was a poor 11-17 just 8 days ago, and now seem to be turning the corner. Hopefully, this hiatus in the schedule won't affect the Raptors winning ways. They've been off since Wednesday, and don't play again until Sunday against the Pistons.

All I wanted for Christmas was a winning team. Maybe that'll come true. Maybe.

The Week in the S&C: Episode 1

2009-12-05T10:37:00.000-08:00

Due to my lack of blogs, I've decided to set up a podcast. Every Saturday, I'll be coming to you via audio to recap the week that was in Raptorland.

Behind another dominant performance by Chris Bosh, the Raptors won for the first time in 6 tries last night. Hedo Turkoglu hit a game winner in overtime and the Raptors won 109-107. The Raptors are now 8-13, and will be looking to stay on the winning side of things as they face the 7-10 Bulls tonight.

The Week in the S&C: Episode 1

Kevin Hooker's Podcast

As a Toronto Raptors fan, I deserve better

2009-11-27T18:47:00.000-08:00

Close your eyes. Flashback to October 27th. The eve of the 2009-2010 Raptors season. So much excitement. The wait was finally over.

Now flash forward to today, one month later. Where's your excitement now?

The Raptors are losers of five straight on the road, and staring down a 7-10 record. Huh?

I knew the Raptors biggest issue would be defense, but I didn't think it'd be this embarrassing. My basketball coach always to say me "Take pride on defense. It all comes from the heart". I wish he could say that same thing to the Toronto Raptors. It's one thing to be a poor defender--but it's another thing to not give a damn. No hustle, no spacing, no energy. Just "olé" defense (another term used by my coach). Before tonight's loss to the Celtics (they gave up 116 points tonight), the Raptors were giving up 111 PPG. That's just pathetic.

For as happy I am the Raptors got Hedo Turkoglu, he's not living up to his 5 yr/$53M contract. Not one bit. On Wednesday, he had 5 points, and he's only averaging around 13.5 PPG overall. I rest my case.

I've heard all the excuses: the tough schedule, the team needs to gel, yada, yada, yada. Last I checked Chris Bosh will be a free agent on July 1st. Time isn't on the Raptors side. They need to win. Immediately.

Of the Raptors ten losses, eight have been against teams who made the playoffs last year. What's that mean? It means the Raptors can't beat the better teams in the league.

The past two games (both losses), I've done something I've never done before. I turned the TV off before the final buzzer sounded because I was so frustrated with the poor effort put forth. I'm worried the poor start to the season is the beginning of the end. Are you?

I know it's only November, but I expected more. Prior to the season started, I predicted a 51-31 record. That means the Raptors will have to go 45-20 the rest of the year. Yikes.

As a die hard Raptor fan, I deserve better. We all deserve better.

Recapping the West Coast Trip

2009-11-20T11:19:00.000-08:00

What adjectives can be used to describe the Raptors' trip out West? Disappointing? Infuriating? Sad? The Raptors had plenty of opportunity to win against the Suns and the Jazz, but came up on the losing end in 3 of their 4 games.

Chris Bosh carried the load for the Raptors on Wednesday, putting up 32 points and 17 rebounds in the loss--something that isn't unusual. Bosh has been putting up MVP type numbers all year, but doesn't get enough support. The Calderon-Jack experiment hasn't worked at all. Andrea Bargnani, for as good as he'll be one game, will go completely cold the next. And frankly, I had higher hopes for Hedo Turkoglu--yes, he's been playing good, but considering his fantastic playoff run with the Magic, I expected more.

The Raptors are now 5-7, and losers of their last 3. What scares me the most--the Raptors have seven losses. Six of those are against teams who made the playoffs last year. Granted, the Western Conference is better than the Eastern Conference, but nonetheless... For a team that should play post-April 2010, losing six out of seven to playoff teams is certainly a concern.

Just how bad was it? Well, the Raptors opponent field goal percentage was just above 50%. The killing game was Wednesday, as the Nuggets shot 62%.

During the 4 game stretch, the Raptors opponent averaged 106 points per game.

The opponent averaged 49 points in the paint, compared to the Raptors who averaged 39. On Wendesday, the Nuggets dropped 68 of their 130 points in the painted area.

Obviously, this isn't the start Bryan Colangelo, Chris Bosh and the Raptors had in mind. Maybe I'm overreacting, because there's sill a ton of basketball (70 games to be exact) left to play. But at the end of the day, keeping their franchise player, Chris Bosh, is biggest priority. If the Raptors have any chance of re-signing him, they need to win. Now.

The Raptors take on the Heat tonight at the ACC.

Raptors lose a heartbreaker...

2009-11-16T16:45:00.000-08:00

The 5-4 Raptors faced the red hot 8-2 Phoenix Suns, as the Raptors west coast trip continued on Sunday night.

Right from the get-go, the game shifted into the Mike D'Antoni up-tempo offense. Both teams fired away, hitting jumpers and penetrating the paint for points. Hell, with 8:09 left in the 1st quarter, the score was 16-12. I felt like my eyes were shifting rapidly from one side of the TV to the other. The Raptors led most of the way (their biggest lead was 10), but for the most part, only a few possessions separated the opponents.

But just like any classic Raptors game, the Suns found a way to take the lead late in the game. With 7:41 left in the game, Steve Nash hit a dagger 3 pointer to go up 87-84.

Back and forth the teams went, exchanging leads. All while my mood was flip flopping like a middle aged woman going through her annual PMS symptoms. It was not a pretty sight.

With 38 seconds left, Steve Nash drove the lane and scored from the left side while Jose Calderon committed a killer foul. Suns up by 100-101. It was at this point that I started praying and firing away at my Twitter.

With 12 seconds left, the Raptors put the game in Hedo Turkoglu's hands, calling on him to shoot the game winner. The shot was up.....and off the back iron. Raptors lose. Suns win. I was on the ground in disbelief.

While sitting there, I just thought of two things: A--how did we even contend with these guys? B--how did we lose? I wasn't this heartbroken over a loss since Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Nets in 2007. This was one of few occasions where the Raptors gave a 100% effort for 48 minutes--but somehow still lost. It was so frustrating.

And the thing is--I have no complaints. The Raptors played amazing. I mean, to be THAT CLOSE to a beating an 8-2 team on the road is hard to do. No question, last nights game was the most exciting of the season. The fans in attendance definitely got their moneys worth. It's hard to see your team lose, but it's even harder when the effort doesn't match the result. I've had 21 hours to recuperate from the loss, but it still leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.

Alright, well since I've vented, I guess it's time for me to get up off the floor and move on with my life.

What a night

2009-11-14T11:36:00.000-08:00

The Raptors were at the Staples Center last night, fortunately not playing the Lakers, but rather the Clippers. Since the game was on the west coast, tip-off didn't start until 10:30 eastern time.

The Raptors came out flat as a board. The Clippers shot 75% in the first quarter and had a commanding 34-17 lead. Against the Clippers?

Then I fell asleep on the couch. Big mistake.

The Raptors began to chip away at the lead, and even cut the lead to single digits at half. The Clippers saw their 17 point lead drop to 9 at halftime.

From there on out, the Raptors were in the drivers seat. The game was tied at the end of 3, then then the floodgates opened. The Raptors outscored the Clippers by 15 in the 4th, thanks to a 16-0 run to end the game. Wow. What a comeback. Raptors won 104-89. The Clippers' biggest lead was 22, setting a franchise record for the largest deficit to earn a win by the Raptors.

After dropping 34 in the 1st quarter, the Clippers only managed to score 18.3 points over the next 3 quarters. The Raptors defense finally decided to wake up, and slowly began to chip away offensively from there.

Marco Belinelli played 28 minutes off the bench to provide some much needed scoring for the Raptors. He loomed large in the second quarter, where he scored his nine of his 15 points to help cut down the big lead. Belinelli also hit two crucial three-pointers in the fourth quarter, pulling Toronto to within a point at 83-84 with nine minute to play and then building a seven-point advantage at 96-89 with 3:10 remaining. Thanks again for that bench, Mr. Colangelo. It's games like these where it really pays off.

Chris Bosh had another monster game, pouring in 21 points and 14 rebounds. His streak of 7 games of having 25+ points came to an end. Jose Calderon, whose impressed me the past few games, had 18 points and 8 assists.

All in all, I loved the effort of the Raptors. While I didn't see the 80% of the game, I was certainly happy to see I got a text message at 1:00am, updating me that the Raptors won. The early holes the Raptors have dug against Chicago and LA have been discouraging, but the team's ability to respond in the past two fourth quarters has been promising.

But if the Raptors want to beat the Suns tomorrow, they'll have to play a full 48 minutes. Taking the 1st quarter off against the Suns and Nuggets won't cut it. These west coast teams are far too good. But hopefully, this big win will boost the Raptors' confidence.

I guess Friday the 13th is a bad luck day after all.

Oh boy...

2009-11-09T13:48:00.001-08:00

A win is a win. A loss is a loss. A terrible loss ruins my night.

Although I was unable to watch the Raptors-Hornets game last Friday, I did manage to take a look at the box score. The big obvious that stuck out, besides the fact the Raptors won, was the 90 points posted by the Hornets. 90 points? Impressive. Besides the 21 & 18 by Chris Paul, the Hornets were pretty much shut down. Toronto's field goal percentage a shade under 51, while the Hornets shot 48%.

The next night, the Raptors were in Dallas to face the Mavericks. Chris Bosh's homecoming.

Again, I was unable to watch the first half, but thanks to the invention of text messaging I noticed the Raptors were down by 7 at the half way point. Then I got home. Crap.

Right off the bat, the Mavericks started to separate themselves. Chris Bosh couldn't/didn't defend/care Dirk Nowitzki, as he lit it up from downtown. The Mavericks got ridiculously easy penetration points. The Mavericks made the pick and roll look like the most dominant play in basketball. The defense in itself looked like a high school team.

And this doesn't take an expert to figure out--the Raptors lost 129-101, and the Mavericks shot 62% from the field. You read that right. 62%. That's not one quarter. That's an entire game.

Where do you start? The Raptors have played 6 games, and 2 have resulted in the counterpart scoring at least 125 points (no overtime). It appears the pre-season issue is very much a reality. Will this poor defense-good offense scheme work for 76 more games? I know we're only 6 games into the season, but nonetheless--it wouldn't matter if it was game 1, or game 55. The defense is an obvious problem.

And it doesn't get any easier. The Raptors will face the Tony Parker-less Spurs tonight at 8:30. Hopefully some adjustments have been made, but I'm expecting it to be high scoring affair. How will Chris Bosh match up with Tim Duncan? Will CB actually give a rats ass this time?

Be sure to check it out. I know I will. And I'm sure the occasional couch pillow will be thrown at the TV. Oh, the stresses of being a Raptors fan...

Jose Calderon: Cause for Concern?

2009-11-05T13:03:00.000-08:00

Largely due to the bench, the Raptors defeated the Pistons at the ACC last night 110-99. Chris Bosh had 25 points, while Andrea Bargnani posted 22 points and 12 rebounds...that's right folks, 12 rebounds for Ill Mago.

But I'm not here to write about the victory. I'm here to write about a more serious concern, and that is the play of PG Jose Calderon. In 31 minutes of action, Calderon put up a measly 9 points and 1 assists, which didn't come until late in the game. Ouch.

Calderon's season has been off to a very slow start, particularly at the defensive end. Play after play, Calderon gets burned by PG's. I can think of a handful of times last night when Rodney Stuckey, an average PG at best, blew by Jose Calderon for an easy lay in. Calderon's defense was a problem last year and the same concern is still prevalent.

On the other hand, Calderon's backup Jarrett Jack, had a terrific game. In 31 minutes (same as Calderon), Jack had 9 points, 6 assists, and actually played defense, which is something the Raptors aren't accustomed too.

But when asked if he was happy with his play, Calderon didn't hesitate.

"No. I could get better in what happens on the floor and (my) offence and defence have got to be much better,”

“It's only four games into the season right now,” he said. “I try to give my best but when we are winning it (his stat totals) doesn't matter. I have to practice to play my best basketball (but) we have guys who are playing really good so it's great.”

“A lot of that has maybe been due to the rust and the fact that this is the first time in his career he had that much time away from professional basketball,” said Raptors coach Jay Triano.

Excuses, excuses, excuses, right coach? I've heard it a million times--battered body, hasn't played in a while, he needs time, yada, yada, yada. I'm sick of it--I want results. And time isn't something the Raptors have on their side right now. Last I checked, Chris Bosh will be a free agent in 7 months, and if the Raptors have any shot of keeping him, they need to win. Now.

Last year, I made a bold prediction, stating I thought Jose Calderon would be a top PG in the East this season. Given the slow start, this may not be possible.

Granted, we are only 4 games into the year, and there's 78 more to go, but it's all about first impressions. And as of right now, I'm not too impressed with Jose Calderon.

Pistons at Raptors

2009-11-04T13:32:00.000-08:00

The short handed Pistons will be heading north of the border tonight to face the Raptors at 7:00. With Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince both sidelined, Ben Gordon scored 23 points while Rodney Stuckey and reserve Will Bynum each added 20 as Detroit, now 2-2, avoided a third straight loss with an 85-80 home win over Orlando on Tuesday. The Pistons will be looking for back-to-back wins and 5 straight victories over the Toronto Raptors.

The Raptors will be looking to end their 2 game losing streak, as they fell to Orlando on Sunday 125-116. Despite a monster game from Chris Bosh, the Raptors let the Magic score 51 points from 3 point land and allowed JJ Reddick to drop 27 points.

What To Watch For:

Although it's only 3 games, the Raptors defense looks to be a major concern. Luckily, the offensive game (led by Chris Bosh who is averaging 31 PPG) is allowing the team to stay in contention. But at the end of the day, it's all about defense.

Containing the "no names": Anyone else noticed that "not so good" players always have big games against the Raptors? JJ Reddick dropped 27 points on the Raptors' defense the other day, and Will Bynum will be coming off a big game. How will he perform tonight?

Stuckey vs. Calderon: Rodney Stuckey has always been looked at as an average PG. Given Calderon's poor ability to defend, will he get exposed yet again tonight? Which PG will have the better night?

Be sure to watch the Raptors at 7:00 on TSN2. Hopefully, the Raptors can get back to .500 tonight.

Week 1 Thoughts

2009-11-02T15:43:00.000-08:00

NBA basketball is in full swing, as the Raptors have now played 3 games in the 2009-2010 season.

Let's start with Wednesday's game against Cleveland. The home opener. A new start. Everyone's excited about the season starting. Anthony Parker and Jamario Moon make their return to the ACC (which by the way, both got a huge applause). The Raptors played exceptional defense, en route to a 10 point victory. Chris Bosh and Andrea Bargnani had monsterous games, as CB posts 21 points and 16 boards, and Ill Mago put up 28 points. While LeBron had a triple double, the Raptors defended him well, as he was only able to score 23 points. Great start. Everything and everyone looked great. Raptors 1-0.

The Raptors then went on the road to face Memphis. Supposed to be an easy win, right? Think again. Raptor lose 115-107. Chris Bosh had another great game, posting 35 points and 12 boards. However, the Raptors couldn't contain Zach Randolph, has he scored 30 points.

Back to the ACC on Sunday, the Raptors faced the Orlando Magic. Vince Carter made his return to the Air Canada Centre with another team, but didn't play because of injury (ring a bell, Raptor fans?). Despite being without Vince Carter, Rashard Lewis, and Mickael Pietrus, the Magic won 125-116. Raptors close the week 1-2, losing 2 straight. Yikes.

Now, it may just be week 1, but the pro's and con's of the Raptors have definitely been exposed. To be positive, the offense seems unstoppable. The Raptors have posted over 100 points in all three of their contests thus far. Chris Bosh is putting up superstar numbers, as he's averaging 31 PPG and a shy under 15 RPG. Rookie DeMar DeRozan seems to finding his way. He's not playing the minutes I'd hope, but I like what I've seen so far. The bench is dramatically improved from last year--Jay Triano is rotating the bench guy's in nicely.

The obvious problem is the defense, in a major way. While the defense impressed me in game #1, these past 2 games have shown me the defense needs a ton of work. Jose Calderon's poor defense was exposed big time yesterday afternoon--Jameer Nelson dropped 30 points on the Spanish point gaurd, and made him look silly with some of the moves he was making. As a team, the Raptors let the Magic score 51 points from downtown yesterday, and let JJ Reddick drop 27 points. That's gotta be close to his career high. All in all, the perimeter defense looked awful, and was the big reason why the Raptors came out on the short end of the stick in yesterday's affair. Of course, the big issue coming into the season unlimited offense and a limited defense. That issue is definitely prevalent thus far.

In fact, the PG duo of Calderon and Jarrett Jack hasn't met my expectations. Jack's numbers are very low, and for a guy who was supposed to bring immediate defense, hasn't blown me away. While I'm happy with Calderon's assist numbers, he seems to be forgetting to shoot the ball. I'll be looking at the box score and see him with 5 points and 12 assists. He needs to remember he's got a good jump shot, and actually get involved in the offense.

Calderon missed 3 free throws in the 2008-2009 season--he's missed 4 so far.

Now, I realize we're 3 games into an 82 game season, and maybe I should calm down. But at the end of the day, the defense will determine the Raptors fate.

October 28, 2009: The Long Await Is Finally Here

2009-10-28T14:17:00.000-07:00

Finally, the 6 month, 13 day wait is over. Finally, October 28th, 2009 has arrived. Finally, we get to see the rebuilt Toronto Raptors tip their 2009-2010 season off against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Finally, we get to see Hedo Turkoglu, Jarrett Jack, Marco Belinelli, and Antoine Wright make their Toronto Raptor debuts. Finally, Toronto Raptor basketball is back.

Finally.

I can't begin to describe how excited I am for tonight's game. I woke up this morning thinking to myself Toronto Raptor basketball will be here for the next 6+ months. Amazing.

I can't wait to see the player introductions. I can't wait to hear the excitement of the crowd just prior to tip off. I can't wait to see DeMar DeRozan dunk for the first time. I can't wait to see how many pounds Chris Bosh actually gained this off-season. Hell, I can't wait to see LeBron James do his pre-game ritual when he throws the rosin in the air.

And to be perfectly honest, I like the fact that we (yes, we) open the season against the Cavs. Yes, it's a long 82 game season, but it's all about first impressions--will the Raptors be able to contend with the elite teams in the East? Well, tonight we'll get our first glimpse.

A few thoughts:

How will Toronto be able to contend with The King? He dropped 38 on the well defensive Boston Celtics team. How many will he drop on the Raptors tonight? Whose going to step up?

Anthony Parker & Jamario Moon return to the ACC tonight. What's the crowd's reception going to be like? Boos? Cheers? I predict cheers for both players, but it will definitely be interesting to see what happens.

Remember when Shaquille O'Neal called Chris Bosh the "RuPaul of big men" last year? Although Chris says it's water under the bridge, we all know it's not. Bosh wants revenge. He'll get a chance at it tonight.

I'm assuming newcomer DeMar DeRozan will be guarding LeBron James tonight. In other words, a rookie will be defending last year's MVP. How's this going to work? Antoine Wright is finally healthy, and has proven to be a good defender in the NBA. Don't be surprised if Antoine, although coming off the bench, sees the floor more tonight than DeMar.

When it's all said and done, I believe the Cavs will come out victorious. But I also predicted that the Cavs would win last night against Boston, so who am I to predict?

But frankly, it's not a big deal if we lose tonight--there's 82 game in a season! I'm just glad the NBA season is now in full swing, and Raptor basketball has returned.

Get ready, folks. Let the games begin.

Top 5 Things To Watch For In 2009-2010: #1

2009-10-27T16:24:00.001-07:00

#1: Defense

I could write about the Raptors' defensive disasters for days. What adjectives can be used to sum up the defense in 2008-2009? Jose Calderon's poor defensive was exposed big-time last year, and didn't help that a bum hamstring limited his quickness.

The Raptors averaged giving up 101.9 PPG, and the defensive efficiency was at a ridiculously high 110. Terrible numbers. Just terrible. Defense alone caused the Raptors go to 33-49 last year.

Yes, Bryan Colangelo brought in some help this off-season, but mostly offensive orientated players. It sounds like a lot of offense, but no defense whatsoever. It's hard to win in the NBA when you're giving up the same amount of points you just scored on offense. So all in all, I'm just as concerned this year. And it doesn't help I had a rude awakening when I watched the "olé defense" in the pre-season.

And this is the big reason why many ESPN panelists don't have the Raptors making the playoffs this year. While I disagree, I see the point they're making. I wouldn't be surprised to see a few final scores be 140-138.

If anyone watched the Finals last year, it was obvious how bad Hedo Turkoglu's defense was. Yes, he's clutch, and yes he can score at will--but he can't play a lick of defense. You know why Marco Belinelli rode the pine last year in Golden State? He can't play defense.

To be positive, Jose Calderon is 100% healthy, so expect to his quickness return. Chris Bosh has gained weight, so he'll be finally be able to contend with the Dwight Howard's in the NBA.

But when it's all said and done, defense is what it comes down to. Whoever said "defense wins championships" was 100% on the money. If the Raptors can't play defense in 2009-2010, us fans can kiss the playoffs goodbye once again.

Keep your fingers crossed.

Top 5 Things To Watch For In 2009-2010: #2

2009-10-26T16:30:00.000-07:00

#2: The Bench

The 6th man. The under-appreciated guys. The guys who may not be as good as the starters, but can still fill a roll nicely. The bench.

One of the big reasons why the Raptors underachieved in 2008-2009 was largely due to a thin bench. Jason Kapono and Joey Graham couldn't do it all.

Bryan Colangelo realized this; so what'd he do? He signed Jarrett Jack and Rasho Nesterovic, and traded for guys like Marco Belinelli, Antoine Wright and Amir Johnson. Talk about a revolution.

Although I'm happy with the new and improved bench, I have my doubts. It sounds like a ton of offense but not a lick of defense. Rasho, while he brings athleticism to the backup big man position, has a limited defensive game. It's overrated. Marco Belinelli didn't play much in Golden State, something that was thought to be a questionable decesion by head coach Don Nelson. Will Belinelli prove him wrong?

But at the end of the day, the bench will arguably shape the success of the Raptors this upcoming year. A solid starting rotation, coupled with a good bench, and the Raptors off-season moves could actually be a success.

Kudos, Bryan Colangelo.

Top 5 Things To Watch For In 2009-2010: #3

2009-10-25T17:29:00.001-07:00

#3: Chris Bosh's SPG

*SPG=Smiles Per Game

As every Raptor fan knows, Chris Bosh will be entering his final season under contract with the Toronto Raptors. Bosh publicly said he won't accept a contract extension, and wants to stick to his "original plan of being a free agent in July 2010".

So what does this mean? It means the Raptors must of a hell of year for the superstar to stay in Toronto. With the additions of Hedo Turkoglu, Jarrett Jack, Marco Belinell, etc, Bryan Colangelo hopes the Raptors can contend with the Eastern Conference's elites.

For me, it's all about getting off to a good start. If the Raptors go 4-12 in the month of November, that should say something. The Raptors face 7 2009 playoff teams in the first 10 games. These games should be a prelude to Bosh's happiness, because it will show if the Raptors are capable of playing with the better teams in the league.

If the Raptors are not successful enough to keep Bosh in Toronto then it will be a major step backwards for the franchise. Only Chris knows what it will take for him to stay with the Raptors. But I'm confident that he will do more than his share to make the team a winner. The biggest and most important thing Bosh can do to make the Raptors successful is to step it up on the defensive side. Blocks, steals, and stops will make or break the Toronto Raptors. Jack Armstrong believes, as do I, that CB4 still has another level to his game that is yet to be shown--this level needs to be exposed in '09-'10. But at the end of the day, improvements to Bosh's game won't be enough to put the Raptors over the edge--it must be a team effort.

Alright, Bryan Colangelo. This is your last chance. Let's hope it pays off.

Top 5 Things To Watch For In 2009-2010: #4

2009-10-23T16:05:00.000-07:00

Tonight I'll be looking at the fourth most important thing to look out for in 2009-2010.

#4: Andrea Bargnani

I believe Bargnani holds to the keys to success for the Raptors in 2009-2010. Can the Raptors really afford to have their starting power forward to have another "slump"? While I'm happy Bargnani broke out of his shell last year, his shell still needs to break more. As much as I love the guy, he's still not playing up to his #1 overall pick. His game, while it has high points, still needs to develop into a complete package. Can this be achieved? Absolutely. But his defense needs work. His rebounding needs work. He still makes stupid mistakes. At the end of the day, Bargnani can only control what Bargnani does.

Bargnani must put it altogether by October 28. Toronto can't wait until December like last year to see any progress. If it's going to happen, it's got to happen right away. The Raptors' face 7 teams from last years playoffs in the first 10 games of the season. These important games will really show me if Bargnani's taken that next step.

Raptor insiders said Bargnani's game got increasingly better over the summer. But all in all, it comes down to game production and how he can perform over 82 games.

Bargnani signed a 5yr/$50M extension over the summer. Way overpaid in my opinion, but I'm only saying that because I don't think he's $10M per year talent. That can change, however. Bargnani has the chance to prove to haters he's worth that type of money.

I'm pulling for Bargnani. I really am. I like the guy and I think he has a ton of potential. I pray his momentum from last season carries over into 2009-2010. I, along with Bryan Colangelo, believe in the guy. But considering he'll be entering his 4th NBA season, this is a make or break year for Andrea Bargnani.

Top 5 Things To Watch For In 2009-2010: #5

2009-10-21T17:36:00.000-07:00

One week left. I can't believe the season is vastly approaching. I remember thinking to myself on the evening on April 15, "thank God this season will finally be over with tonight". That was 6 months and 6 days ago. Hard to believe. Now, I can't wait for the revolutionized off-season to be in full swing.

In spirit of the final week of pre-season, I'll be doing my top 5 things to look out for in 2009-2010.

#5: Offensive Rebounding

Here's a stat that may be surprising, but it was a huge problem for the Raptors in 2008-2009. Last year, the Raptors averaged just 24 offensive rebounds a game. In other words, 29th in the league, San Antonio being team worse in that category.

Rebounding has always been as issue for the Raptors, especially since Andrea Bargnani can't rebound to save his life. The Raptors front court consists of a 6'10 guy, another 6'10 guy, and a 7 footer. Chris Bosh reportedly gained 15 pounds this off-season, and I expect his rebound numbers to be even higher than they were last year (he averaged 10.0 last year). But at the end of the day, Andrea's game will determine the success of the rebounding game. Has he really improved this off-season, or are Raptor front office people just saying this to make fans happy?

One more week. To be exact 165 hours, 38 minutes, and 45 seconds. Can't wait.

...Now for my preview

2009-10-10T14:01:00.000-07:00

Close your eyes. Think back to when you were four or five years old. Think about your favorite toy. Remember the good times? Remember how much fun you had with that one toy?

Although Bryan Colangelo is 44, he reminds me so much of a 5 year old, in the sense that he can't wait to play with his new "toy". Colangelo took full blame for the disappointing 2008-2009 season, and promised fans he'd make up for it. So what'd do? Colangelo brought in 9 new players, named Jay Triano head coach, as well as made some other coaching moves, for instance adding Raptor legend Alvin Williams as an assistant.

This revolution all started back June when the Raptors drafted the USC product DeMar DeRozan. DeRozan's a freakish athlete, and probably has the best chance to make the Slam Dunk Contest as a rookie. But just a few weeks later, Bryan Colangelo & the Raptors shocked the NBA by signing Hedo Turkoglu. While his contract may be too lucrative, there's no denying the talent. Turkoglu was a big reason why the Magic made the Finals last season, and he's certainly a force to be reckoned with.

Then, all the pieces started to fall in place. The Raptors signed guys like Jarrett Jack, Marco Belinelli, Rasho Nesterovic, and Antoine Wright. Following this very busy off-season by Bryan Colangelo, the Raptors now have a very solid starting 5, as well as a very deep bench, which was missing last year.

I'm expecting big things out of Jose Calderon next year. Calderon was supposed to "break out of his shell" last season, but because of injury, he, like the entire team, fell short of expectations. Calderon's fully healthy now, and I expect more offensive production, as well as a much improved defensive game, which Calderon struggled with last year.

Andrea Bargnani actually played like a #1 overall pick last year. His defensive and rebounding struggles at times, but he can score from all over the court. I expect Bargnani's game to continue to develop, but in the back of my mind I realize there's a pattern--Bargnani had a good rookie year, terrible sophomore year, then a great third year. Will this cycle continue or has Bargnani officially emerged?

The role players will also play a big role in the success of the Raptors. Marco Belinelli & DeMar DeRozan will have to make up for the lost production of Anthony Parker. Belinelli hardly played last year in Golden State, and DeRozan's a raw rookie Will this work? How developed will DeRozan's game be by the start of the season?

This is also a make or break year for Chris Bosh and the Raptors. As everyone knows, Bosh will be in the 2010 class of free agents. Bosh seems very happy to be a Raptor, but his satisfaction must translate to wins. Otherwise, Raptor fans can kiss Chris Bosh goodbye.

When it's all said and done, injuries will make or break this team. The Raptors can't afford to miss Jose for another extended period of time, or have Bosh miss another 15 games because of a bum knee. If it's going to work in 2009-2010, everyone must be healthy. Period.

As much as I applaud Bryan Colangelo's off-season, all the pressure lies on him. He changed this team, now it's up to him to show Raptor fans another lousy year isn't in store. This past summer showed how desperately he wants Chris Bosh to stay in Toronto. Has he done enough?

All this pre-season Raptors hype is just talk. It doesn't mean anything. But all in all, I'm loving the Toronto Raptors in 2009-2010.

Prediction: 51-31

Ball Don't Lie 2009-2010 NBA Preview: Toronto Raptors

2009-10-10T13:56:00.000-07:00

There's no real rhyme or reason beyond the Raptors' improvement this year, as the team hasn't really done much to send itself spiraling toward 50 wins.

Personnel-wise, I should say. Chris Bosh(notes), Jose Calderon (notes) and Andrea Bargnani (notes) should all be better. They were younger last year, they're older this year. Analysis!

And Hidayet Turkoglu is on board, shoring up that small forward position. DeMar DeRozan (notes) is the rookie. Whatever. He can jump, but he could block any shot or rebound in college. Not feeling it.

What I am looking forward to is a full, healthy year from Calderon. He managed 68 games last year, which is a fair amount, but he was at full strength for a third of those appearances, at best. And apologies for relying on a cliché, but he's what drives this team. He's the man with the live dribble that draws attention.

And because I can't help but trust that he's been introduced to potassium supplements and that his wheels will be in place this season, I think the Raps will improve. JC's 28, too. In his prime.

Hedo will help, no doubt, but there will be a feeling-out period. He's not going to have the ball as much (imagine the semi-shock, making the transition from a point forward to typical small forward), and his long-range shooting isn't good enough for him just to be a spot-up guy.

Losing Anthony Parker hurts, replacing that guy's minutes with Marco Belinelli and DeRozan will destroy this team on some, certain, crap, most nights. But Jarrett Jack is an actual backup point man, something the team just didn't have last year. Reggie Evans can board. Not sure if he'll play all that much, but he can clean the glass and the Raps were missing that last season.

Rasho Nesterovic? Cackle all you want, but the more Toronto plays this guy, the better it'll be. Not the best rebounder, but a fantastic defender who will keep defenses honest with his ability to catch and finish.

In a way, Andrea Bargnani attunes to the same ideal, minus the defense. He can't rebound, he can't defend, but he can score. I won't comment on his ridiculous contract (actually, I think I just did), but he is a 7-footer with skills who can put the ball in the hoop.

When you factor in the myriad roles an NBA player has to work through to help his team, I don't know if Bargs actually comes out ahead — he can hit the odd 3-pointer, but what does that count for if he's giving it up on every possession defensively and failing to rebound? But he's stuck in Toronto for a while. Might as well try to make it work.

Not to get too dramatic, but this is more or less it for the Raptors. They have to kill it this year. Depth is there — Amir Johnson and Sonny Weems (notes) and Antoine Wright will help — but Toronto has to really, truly surprise if it wants to keep Bosh in the fold. There are just too many sound teams with free-agent money next summer to toss out 34 wins with a capped-out team (and Hedo's contract hanging around) and hope for the best.

So everything has to fall into place, and the team has to be more than the sum of its parts. And even though we took in 65 games (25-40) from Jay Triano last year, I'm not entirely convinced he's the guy for that job. As a fan, I hope he is, but a lot of things will have to go right for the Raps.

And, for whatever reason — call it the Hedo Effect — I'm guessing things turn around. Keep dribbling, Jose.

Prediction: 40-42

Raptors Pre-Season Tips Off

2009-10-07T16:19:00.000-07:00

The Raptors play for the first time on their home court tonight as they finish up their back-to-back with the 76ers. The two teams battled it out last night in London, Ontatio, as the 76ers beat the Raptors 108-97. Andrea Bargnani was the high scorer for the Raptors, putting up 22 points. Last night gave Raptor fans the opportunity to see seven new Raptor players make their debut, the most hyped up being DeMar DeRozan. DeRozan put up 9 points on 3-7 shooting, to go along with 3 assists and 4 rebounds.

The big story of last nights game was the "poor performance" of Jose Calderon, as he comitted 4 turnovers, and his poor defense was yet again exposed. But quite frankly, is this really big news? It's the first pre-season game, and it's the first time Jose has played competitively since April.

Antoine Wright, Hedo Turkoglu, and Chris Bosh weren't with the team.

Division by division preview: Southwest Division

2009-10-06T16:24:00.000-07:00

First off, let me apologize to my fellow readers about the lack of blogs. With school and whatnot, it's been hard to get 30 minutes of free time. The Raptors 2009 training camp has concluded, and I should probably shift gears in terms of my writes, but whatever. Let's take a look at my final division preview, the Southwest.

San Antonio Spurs: Last season, the Spurs had one of the oldest teams in the NBA. It appeared the Duncan-Parker championship era was coming to an end, seeing the teams owner refused to add more talent. But this summer, the Spurs were surpringsly aggressive, trading Fabricio Olberto for Richard Jefferson, as well as signing Antonio McDyess and Theo Ratliff. Not to mention the fantastic NBA Draft back in June. With these dramatic moves, the Spurs are in a totally different league, and it appears a first round playoff exit is near impossible. Manu Ginobili is healthy again, so it looks like the Spurs could have one of the better front courts in the NBA. Look out NBA, the San Antonio Spurs are back.

Dallas Mavericks: Dallas had one of the better summers this off-season, acquiring guys like Shawn Marion and Drew Gooden. The Marion signing will certainly add some flexibilty on the offense and defensive side of the ball. New contractee Jason Kidd may be 36, and may have lost a step, but he still looks like he could play until age 45. I really like the Mavericks in 2009-2010, and the core of the team is basically the same so 50+ wins is certainly possible.

New Orleans Hornets: Chris Paul continues to put up MVP type numbers, but he can't do it all. When Peja's shot is off and David West slumps, it's basically a CP3 show. It appeared the Hornets were in complete disarray, and looked like Bryon Scott could be on his way out of the Big Easy. Then something happened...the Hornets got a HUGE steal by trading for Emeka Okafor, who will supply immediate help on both offense and defense in the low post. Okafor will not only lead the Hornets to the postseason, but put up double double numbers on a nightly basis. The drafting of Darren Collision will also help Chris Paul at the point guard position. Hornets fans could be in for a treat.

Houston Rockets: For a team with so much promise in last years playoffs, the Rockets completely fell apart in just 2 months. Yao Ming may miss all off next season, Tracy McGrady will be on the shelf for a good portion of the year, and Ron Artest signed with the Lakers. But on a positive note, Trevor Ariza signed with the organization, who will bring much needed help on the defensive end, while Aaron Brooks' future continues to look brighter. But at the end of the day, injuries have definitely plagued the Rockets and will prove to be very costly when trying to make a playoff push.

Memphis Grizzlies: Much controversy surrounded the Memphis around draft time, but the Grizzlies ended up signing Hasheem Thabeet with he #2 overall pick. Thabeet's offensive game is still very raw, and it will take time for his low post game to develop. Allen Iverson was another addition to the Grizzlies organization, but his play last year certainly showed his age. While I like the core of the Grizzlies, they still appear to be "chuckers", and I think ball distribution will be a problem. Memphis is still in rebuilding mode though, so please be patient Grizzlies fans.

That's it for previews. Now back to Raptor basketball.

Division by division preview: Pacific Division

2009-09-29T17:33:00.000-07:00

I apologize for the brief hiatus in the S&C. The NBA season is rapidly approaching (now less than 1 month away), and I'm getting very excited.

Anyway, it's on to the Pacific division as the previewing continues.

L.A. Lakers: At this point do the Lakers really need a preview? I mean seriously, everyone knows what's in store for this team. The biggest off-season move was bringing in Ron Artest, so myself, along with millions of other writers/analysts believe that will make Western Conference dominant Lakers only better. As much as I hate the Lakers, I'm man enough to admit they're amazing. There's your preview.

Phoenix Suns: Suns' GM Steve Kerr has made some questionable calls in recent years. He completely revolutionized the team when he fired Mike D'Antoni last summer and replaced him with Terry Porter. But the Porter experiment didn't work at all, and he didn't even last to the second half of the year. Alvin Gentry took over his duties, and while the Suns showed improvement, they were just short of the playoffs. Not to mention the powerhouse Shaquille O'Neal now resides in the state of Ohio. While I like the Earl Clark draft, I'm not ready to put the Suns in the playoffs until I see better decision making by Steve Kerr.

L.A. Clippers: The Clippers had an awful 2008-2009 and fell short of all expectations. The tides may be changing however with the #1 draft pick of Blake Griffin. Griffin has the potential to be one of the best big men in the NBA, and I think he'll improve the Clippers dramatically. If Marcus Camby can stay healthy, Baron Davis actually gives a damn, and Blake Griffin performs how I think he'll perform, the sky's the limit for LA. The chances of making the playoffs next year are slim, but the potential for the Clippers in the future (IF all works out) is endless.

Golden State Warriors: Larry Riley, Warriors GM, likes offense. He REALLY likes offense, and it shows when the Warriors put up nearly 150 points on the Suns. But it appears Riley doesn't have an interest in defense--and that's a huge problem. I LOVE the Stephon Curry draft, and it adds to the limitless offense in Oakland. But the lack of defense is a big issue for the Warriors, and it will probably keep them out of the playoffs in 2009-2010. But I fully expect an improved Warriors team, and I'm liking them as the dark horse in the West.

Sacramento Kings: The Kings were the worst team in the NBA last year, but they'll have a ton of money to spend in the summer of 2010. Unfortunately Sacramento fans, don't expect much, if anything, out of the Kings this year. In no way, shape or form, will the Kings make it past 30 wins and the playoffs are a very distant possibility. However, Kevin Martin continues to emerge as a superstar, and I really like the Tyreke Evans draft. But all in all, expect the Kings to have a very busy July 2010 and in bring much needed help to revamp the team.

Division by division preview: Northwest Division

2009-09-25T12:37:00.000-07:00

The Eastern Conference is covered, and now it's on to the West. From top to bottom, the Western Conference is better than its counterpart, but without a doubt, the East continues to make strides of improvement. Today, I'll be previewing the Northwest Division, so without further adieu...

Denver Nuggets: By drafting Ty Lawson, the Nuggets add more youth, as well as a reliable back-up point guard when Anthony Carter retires. Yeah, the Nuggets didn't make any major summer moves, but so what? This is still the same Nuggets team that made the semi-finals last year. Don't fix it if it's not broken, right?

Portland Trail Blazers: The Blazers' young core continues to gel stronger, and it showed by the impressive #4 seed in last year's West. In 2009-2010, the Blazers will only be better, led by their man Brandon Roy whose emerging as one of the better players in the NBA. I also love the Andre Miller signing, because the Blazers needed a pure point guard. Not only will Miller fill that void, but he'll add a veteran leadership to an extremely young team.

Utah Jazz: Following the disappointing '08-'09 season for Utah, I realized something: The Jazz are just an average team. Considering Carlos Boozer's situation, I expect the same thing next year. Boozer's requests of leaving Utah weren't met, and I have a feeling he won't give his best effort for 82 games. Call me crazy, but I think the Jazz are just a small fish in a big pond.

Oklahoma City Thunder: Thunder GM Sam Presti reminds me so much of the Blazer's GM Kevin Pritchard. Neither worry about the short term, but rather build for the future. James Harden could very well win ROY, and I love the development of Russell Westbrook. I expect a monster year out of Kevin Durant in 2009-2010, who by the way just turned 21. I doubt the Thunder will be playing post-April 2010, but don't worry Thunder fans. Good things come to those who wait.

Minnesota Timberwolves: In what was supposed to be a successful 2009 NBA Draft for the Timberwolves, turned into a complete fiasco. Ricky Rubio, the 5th pick, will stay in Spain next year, leaving Jonny Flynn in complete control of the point guard position next year. While I love Flynn's game, the Wolves are still far away from the playoffs. But hey, the team's in rebuilding mode, so...look out for them in the future.

Division by division preview: Southeast Division

2009-09-24T15:27:00.000-07:00

The previewing continues. I've covered the Atlantic and Central. Now it's on to the Southeast, a division which I believe is arguably the most competitive in the East. All 5 teams have the potential to be playing basketball post-April, and it'll be interesting to see it whose in and whose out.

Orlando Magic: The Magic surprised people last year when they made the finals, and I believe the they're poised to make another push. Losing Hedo Turkoglu was a bummer, but the team made up for it by bringing in Brandon Bass, Matt Barnes, "comeback kid" Jason Williams, Ryan Anderson, and of course Vince Carter. Carter's best years are behind him, but he can still create his own shots and demands a double team. The powerhouse D-12 will only be more dominant, and Jameer Nelson is fully healthy again. The East is getting stronger against their counterpart and certainly the Magic are at the top of the food chain.

Atlanta Hawks: I believe the Hawks are one of the bigger underdogs in the East. Led by Mike Woodson, the Hawks won 47 games last year, and made it to the 2nd round of the playoffs. I love the additions of Joe Smith and Jamal Crawford, who can play the 1 or 2 position, as well as drafting a nice backup point guard in Jeff Teague. The Hawks have one of the better front-courts in the East, and it's a big reason why I'm loving them in 2009-2010.

Miami Heat: There's a reason why the Heat are limited to 2nd round picks, and Jamario Moon-less. Pat Riley is preparing to offer Dwayne Wade the big bucks come July 1st, 2010, and praying the superstar will stay in Miami. The Heat signed Quinten Richardson, but I am a little concerned about their not-so-busy summer. The core of the Heat is definitely solid, and there's no doubt a playoff appearance is in the future. Nonetheless, the ball is in Dwayne Wade's court...and 2010 is just around the corner. Brace yourself for a anxious summer, Heat fans.

Washington Wizards: The Wizards have a chance to be the most improved team in 2009-2010. But when dealing with the Wizards, it's all about the health of "The Big 3", Jamison, Butler, and Arenas. I like the additions of Mike Miller and Randy Foye, who will be a nice backup if Arenas goes down again. But at the end of the day, injuries will make or break the Wizards.

Charlotte Bobcats: The Bobcats were oh-so-close to making the playoffs last year, and I think it'll be the same way next season. The Emeka Okafor-Tyson Chandler trade confuses me, and it leaves Gerald Wallace as the only remaining Bobcat since it originated (talk about rebuilding). I expect Wallace to be a vocal leader this year, and take a "this is my team" approach. I like the Gerald Henderson draft, but keeping in mind the recent busts of Duke Alumni. The Bobcats continue to make strides of improvement, but it'll be tough to keep pace with the rest of the competitive Eastern Conference.

Division by division preview: Central Division

2009-09-23T17:18:00.000-07:00

In my previous post, I previewed the Atlantic division. Now let's take a look at the Central.

Cleveland Cavaliers: With the way the media portrays the Cavs, LeBron in particular, I sometimes feel like they're the only team in the NBA. With this being a contract year for "The King", the Cavs front office needed to bring in more talent. So what'd they do? The team signed a 37 year old, 325 pound big man, a guy we all call Shaq. Shaq had a rather impressive year in Phoenix last year, but how will that work this year? Who knows. It could go either way. The Cavs are hoping Shaq is the final piece of the puzzle to go reach the next level.

Chicago Bulls: The Bulls certainly surprised people last year when they went to game 7 against the Celtics. As for next year, I think the momentum will continue to be on their side. Bulls GM John Paxston has been preaching defense, and it showed when he dealt Ben Gordon and kept Kirk Hinrich. In June, the team drafted 6'8 forward James Johnson, and 6'9 former defensive player of the year, Taj Gibson. Chi-town was also able to acquire PG Jannero Pargo, an up-tempo guy who will be a nice piece off the bench. Overall, I think the Bulls can be the dark horse in the East, and very well may sneak up on people once again.

Detroit Pistons: The biggest off-season move for the Pistons was choosing to not re-siging Allen Iverson. Rather, the team signed Ben Gordon, which could come back to bite the front office. Charlie Villanueva was also added, a big man the Pistons have been missing for a while. I believe Austin Daye was a big sleeper, and with his agility and lankiness, he reminds me of a poor mans Tayshaun Prince. Following a disappointing 2008-2009 season, the Pistons are hoping their busy summer will pay off.

Indiana Pacers: Tyler Hansbrough was drafted back in June. Contrary to critics, I think Hansbrough, with time, will develop into a decent big man in the NBA. The Pacers also didn't bring back Jarrett Jack, which I think was very smart. Now, it's officially T.J. Ford's spot, which avoids conflicts, and ultimately makes T.J. a better player. Dahntay Jones was signed and will help at the 2 man position considering Mike Dunleavy's recurring injury. Will the Pacers make the playoffs next year? Probably not. But I like the direction they're taking.

Milwaukee Bucks: Despite the atitude, there's no denying the talent of Brendan Jennings. But with the coaching system Scott Skiles has, Jennings has to learn the fundamentals of defense having no college experience. I also like the Carlos Delfino signing, but I am a little concerned about the surplus of wingmen the Bucks have with Delfino and Jodie Meeks. The Bucks lack of big man will also hurt since Andrew Bogut has turned out to be nothing but a bust. I'm a little confused by the Bucks, but come to think of it, it's not like their a playoff team anyway.

Division by division preview: Atlantic Division

2009-09-21T15:49:00.000-07:00

Finally--the NBA season is approaching us. With now just 37 days until the Raptors tip off the 2009-2010 season, I'm getting very excited. I can't wait to see what's in store for the Raptors, but in general the NBA itself.

In spirit of the NBA season getting closer, I've decided to preview each division. On Day 1, I'll be checking out the Atlantic Division (the teams are in order of which I believe they will be ranked). Let's check it out.

1. Boston Celtics: I hate the Boston Celtics. But as much as I don't want to say it, the Celtics are a very solid basketball team. However, I think age will start to catch up with this team in 2009-2010. By the start of the season, the average age of the "Boston Three Party" will be 33. That's a pretty old age, especially considering the Celtics are going to be relying on the "party" for at least 6 months and 82 games. Don't get me wrong, the Celtics will still be a good team, and win the division crowd. I just think their dominance is over.

2. Toronto Raptors: To make a long story short, this is pretty much a brand new team. Only 3 of the 5 starters from 2008-2009 will be back this year. I think DeMar DeRozan could have been one of the bigger sleepers in June's draft. DeRozan's athleticism is sky high. Since the team has 8 new faces, gelling may be a slight concern. But with training camp, I don't think that will be problem.

3. Philadelphia 76ers: By losing Andre Miller, the 76ers are able to focus all their attention on the still maturing Louis Williams. Williams will be entering his 5th NBA season, and still has a ton of potential. Jrue Holiday, the newly drafted rookie, will complement Williams nicely in the backcourt. I also love the addition of Jason Kapono--with Philadelphia's spread offense, I think Kapono will flourish. But remember, Phillie fans--it all stems back to the all-star Elton Brand and his health. Quick fact: Brand has never played a full 82 game schedule.

4. New York Knicks: LeBron, LeBron, LeBron, right? Well, if the Knicks have any shot of getting LeBron (which I don't think they do), they need to at least make strides of improvement. I love (that's right, love) the additions of Jordan Hill and Toney Douglas. But at the end of the day, you have to question the Knick’s unlikely choice parading a number of power forwards and center positions like Eddy Curry, Al Harrington, Chris Hunter and Darko Milicic. Luciky, the Knicks brought back David Lee though, so I do think the Knicks will be much improved.

5. New Jersey Nets: By parting ways with Vince Carter, the Nets now have extra money floating around for the 2010 off-season. This gives the Nets a chance to pursue guys like Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh and LeBron James. But getting a marquee player is down to a small chance, with the big names getting more inclination in signing a championship caliber team. By dealing away Carter, the Nets are clearly in rebuilding mode. I do, however, like the Courtney Lee and Rafer Alston pick-ups, as well as the Terrance Williams drafting. Not to mention Devin Harris is starting to emerge as one of the better point guards in the league.

Allen Iverson signs with Memphis

2009-09-09T15:40:00.000-07:00

Roughly 9 weeks ago, the 2009 NBA free agency began. Allen Iverson, who was once a star in the league, has still been without a team since then.

Finally, that all changed today. According to Iverson's Twitter, he will be joining the Memphis Grizzlies next season. He reportedly signed a 1 year deal for $3.5M, much less than the $21M he made last year in Denver and Detroit.

In his prime, Iverson was one of the best in the league. At this point in his career, his dominance has taken a dramatic drop. His numbers have fallen, and he's turned into a "chucker" on the court. The Iverson experiment in Motown didn't work at all, and I think it's one of Joe Dumars' biggest mistakes.

Who knows how his next experiment will work. The Grizzlies are a team FULL of chuckers...OJ Mayo, Mike Conley, Zach Randolph, Rudy Gay, and AI need to realize there is going to be 1 ball on the court.

And rumor has it Iverson may come off the bench. How's that going to work? Will he be happy with taking a reserve roll?

Many questions are still surrounding this signing...but hey, at least the guy signed with a team.

ESPN.com predicts Western Conference Standings

2009-09-05T10:59:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday, the same 53 ESPN.com panelists who you've grown to know in the S&C predicted how the Western Conference would pan out. Without a doubt, the West is the more dominant conference, but I believe the East is continuing to improve.

ESPN.com's predictions (the number on the side predicts the win loss-record):

1. Lakers 62-20

2. Spurs 54-28

3. Trail Blazers 52-30

4. Nuggets 51-31

5. Mavericks 50-32

6. Jazz 47-35

7. Hornets 47-35

8. Suns 42-40

Outside looking in team (9th seed): Rockets 35-47

With the exception of a few minor tweaks, I pretty much agree with these predictions. However, I truly believe the Warriors will make some noise next year in the West, but ESPN.com has them winning only 31 games next year. Yes, Steven Jackson wants a trade, but so what? It's not like the Warriors won't get someone good in return if a trade were to happen. In my opinion, I think the Warriors young core may blossom into something special.

About a month ago I posted my own Western Conference predictions. Be sure to check them out.

Can the Toronto Raptors get any credit?

2009-09-01T14:14:00.000-07:00

It's funny--one day the NBA is silent, the next day it's crazy.

Yesterday, 53 ESPN panelists (the same ones who voted for Rookie of the Year) predicted where Chris Bosh, Amar'e Stoudamire, Dwayne Wade, and LeBron James will be come July 2010.

38 believe LeBron James will stay in Cleveland, 8 believe he'll play with the Knicks, 3 believe he'll land in Miami, and 2 think he'll be with the Nets.

35 believe Dwayne Wade will stay in Miami, 8 believe it'll be Chicago, and 6 believe he'll land in New York.

13 believe Amar'e Stoudamire will sign with New York, 10 believe he'll stay in Phoenix, 5 think Golden State, and 4 think he'll play with Miami.

Now for Chris Bosh...

19 believe he'll sign with New York, 13 think Miami, 4 for Chicago, and 3 a piece for Dallas and Toronto. That's right folks--of the 53 votes, 94% of them believe he will leave Toronto. But does this worry me? Not really, it's just a prediction. But it's interesting to see where others believe he'll go.

I do want to know one thing--what's this big obsession with the New York Knicks? Yes, they'll have money to spend, and yes the markets big, but doesn't the team suck? I can't read the minds of these athletes, but I know I'd want to take a pay cut and play for a good team, rather than getting more money and losing on a nightly basis. I've heard people say "Well Eddy Curry and Jarred Jefferies' contracts will clear up $18M". That's true, but not until 2011. So if Donnie Walsh can somehow trade these ridiculously priced players, it appears the Knicks will have to spend that money in the summer of 2011.

And besides--Chris Bosh mentioned in an interview today that he's willing to sit down with Bryan Colangelo and talk about an extension. Now, will this actually happen? Probably not. But the fact that Bosh said he's willing, speaks volumes as to how happy he is with the off-season the Raptors have had. Raptor fans have every right to think Chris Bosh may stick around with Toronto. He seems very happy his new teammates, and depending on how well the team does, it's anyone's guess..

I'm not saying Bosh will stay with Toronto, nor am I saying he won't--I'm going to wait it out, and see how the first few months of the season go.

Alright now, you're probably wondering why the headline of my blog is "Can the Toronto Raptors get any credit?". Well, here's why....

Today, ESPN made their Eastern Conference playoff seeding predictions. ESPN believes the Raptors will be 39-43 next year, and be just shy of the playoffs. This shocks me, and frankly doesn't make sense. You're telling me, ESPN, a team whose had a fantastic off-season like the Raptors isn't going to make the playoffs? Yet, a team like the Heat, who won 43 games last year, and didn't make any off-season moves WILL make the playoffs? It infuriates me, because this team flies under the radar every year. I can't wait for the Raptors to silent these critics. Check out the rest of the predictions here.

What's your stance? How do you guys think the Raptors will do next year? I'd love to hear feedback.

Who hates August? I do

2009-08-29T10:03:00.000-07:00

I apologize for the lack of the blogs these past few weeks. It's August, and the only thing going on Raptors wise is Canadian basketball. But I don't live in Canada, so it's hard to blog on it.

But anyway, Chad Ford recently gave his off-season rankings on ESPN.com. The Raptors were ranked #8. In my opinion, this is a little low, but it comes as no surprise, considering the Raptors never get credit. Ford gave the Celtics the #6 spot, which doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. Don't get me wrong, the Celtics have had a good summer, but better than the Raptors? That's up for debate.

Some other key notables:

Spurs #1, Magic #2, Mavericks #7, Cavs #9

On Thursday, 53 ESPN panelists predicted who would win Rookie of the Year in the 2009-2010 season. Only 9 people didn't vote for Blake Griffin, while Jonny Flynn and James Harden received 3 votes, and Stephon Curry got 2. DeMar DeRozan wasn't voted. It also said in the article that the same panelists will be making future guesses in the upcoming weeks--one of which predicts where the 2010-2011 free agents will land, so I'll be sure to blog on it.

My good buddy James Borbath has set up a Mock GM league, in which participates can control an NBA franchise, weather it be from a GM or agent's perspective. As of about 10 hours ago, a handful of spots are still available. If interested, please get in contact with him via Twitter (dinonationblog). I've never done this before, but it sounds like it'll be fun. By the way--I'm controlling the Chicago Bulls.

Sports Illustrated releases pre-season Power Rankings

2009-08-26T10:59:00.000-07:00

As a kid, what did you want to be when you were older? A firefighter? An astronaut? An athlete? I wanted to be a writer. Yet, I've feared this will only be a dream, because of my lack of insight and knowledge to write on a daily basis.

But then I saw an article, wrote by SI's Chris Mannix which changed everything-- NOW it appears, regardless of intelligence, I can be whatever I choose to be. I mean, if Chris Mannix, can write, why can't I? I consider myself to be decent, am I not?

Today, Chris Mannix released his pre-season Power Rankings. By no surprise, the "givens" are at the top--San Antonio, Cleveland, and Los Angeles are 1, 2, 3 respectively. But here's why I'm outraged--the Toronto Raptors are #18 [rubs eyes]. That's right folks, #18. Is this guy serious?

Now, maybe I'm being biased, but c'mon. I'm guessing somewhere around #12-14 is a much more logical number. Does Chris Mannix realize what the Raptors have done this summer? DeMar DeRozan was an excellent draft choice. Hedo Turkoglu is extremely clutch, and brings post April experience to a team who hasn't seen much of the playoffs in recent years. Jarrett Jack fixes the problem of a back-up point guard. Marco Belinelli, Antoine Wright, Reggie Evans, Rasho Nesterovic, and Amir Johnson Sonny Weems add much needed depth to a thin bench. Not to mention Jose Calderon is healthy again. I've already predicted he'll be a top PG in the East next season. Andrea Bargnani improved greatly from the previous season and I think he's going to start living up to his #1 draft pick. And, oh yeah--Chris Bosh is still a Raptor. With all this, however, Mannix believes the Raptors will be 18th best team next season. Seizes to amaze me.

I'm not sure what's more infuriating--the fact the Raptors are #18, or the fact that the Washington Wizards are ranked #8. The Wizards didn't even crack 20 wins last season. There is no way in HELL Butler, Jamison, and Arenas will play more than 35 games together.

Power Rankings usually don't mean much to me--but it's the fact that the Raptors never get any credit whatsoever. So many people are quick to talk about how well the Celtics, Magic, and Cavs have done this off-season. But, in my opinion, the Toronto Raptors have had a better summer than all three of those teams.

Maybe it's because the Raptors play in Canada--but I'm sick of getting the short end of the stick just because I'm a Raptors fan.

Check out the rest of the Power Rankings here: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/chris_mannix/08/25/offseason.rankings/index.html?&eref=twitter

Latest on the Banks-Carroll trade

2009-08-22T10:49:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday, news broke that the Raptors and Mavericks were setting up a trade that would send Marcus Banks to Dallas, and Matt Carroll to Toronto. While this deal is yet to be finalized, I'm guessing it will eventually go down.

But the more I'm thinking about it, the more I'm actually hating this trade. At first I didn't mind it, but now that I've had time to look into the numbers, it doesn't make a lot of sense.

For one, Matt Carroll is going to see extremely limited minutes. I'm guessing 80% of the time he's going to get DNP-CD. It won't help, in Carroll's case, the Raptors bench is extremely deep and a handful of swingman are more talented than him. Secondly, Carroll still has 4 years left on his deal In the remaining 4 years, he's getting paid roughly $4M per season. Marcus Banks also makes $4M per season, but his contract only has 2 years remaining on it. Yes, getting rid of Banks is a positive. But I'd much retain him, rather than dealing him for someone who isn't a free agent until July 2013, and isn't much better talent wise.

In my opinion, this is the first questionable off-season move by Bryan Colangelo. With this trade, I think it just shows how desperate the team was in moving Marcus Banks. But by any means, I'm not going to hate on Bryan Colangelo--this was a small move, and it doesn't make the Raptors any better or worse. But financially, it doesn't make sense.

When/if this trade goes down, it will probably complete the off-season. The Raptors have 15 players on the roster, regardless if we keep Banks or add Carroll. By the way--I felt dumb after Thursday's blog--I didn't realize the Delfino and Ukic trade was technically a 2 for 1 (because Delfino wasn't a Raptor). So, my bad.

Still 1 spot left..

2009-08-20T11:30:00.001-07:00

These past few days have been busy for Bryan Colangelo. On Tuesday, he finalized a trade that sent Carlos Delfino and Roko Ukic to Milwaukee, while the Raptors got Amir Johnson and Sonny Weems in return. And according to a report on Wednesday, the Raptors are ready to send Marcus Banks to Dallas for Matt Carroll.

In these trades, if a player was lost, another was gained-- so neither team didn't lose any players, number wisel. Despite all these off-season trades, the Raptors still have 14 players on the roster and one more can still be added. Many Raptor fans are getting anxious about this, but I am one of the minority who believes that at this point, it doesn't really matter.

The Raptors have an extremely deep bench. Player 6 very well may be equally talented as player 9. Every player on the bench will have the opportunity to make a solid contribution when hitting the floor. But at the same time, I realize there's only 48 minutes in a basketball game, and not everyone will get equal distribution time--that's not my opinion, that's just basic math.

At the end of the day, fans need to realize the Raptors bench is pretty much set in stone. Honestly, will player #15 put the Raptors over the top? Chances are no. And with a slipping economy, it doesn't make sense to invest a ton of money into a guy who will only get flashes of court time.

Frankly, I don't care who player #15 will be. Because again, he won't make an impact. The only thing I do care about is how much he's getting paid. So all you angry Raptor fans, I'd chill out if I were you--because if I were you, I'd focus on the upcoming and promising season ahead, rather than debating who the 15th man should be. That's the absolute last thing I'm concerned about.

The trades keep coming

2009-08-19T11:42:00.000-07:00

As one trade is completed, another is in the works.

That's the attitude Bryan Colangelo has had over the past few days. Yesterday, the trade that would supposedly send Carlos Delfino and Roko Ukic to Toronto for Amir Johnson and Sonny Weems completed (applause).

And NOW, the very next day, Toronto Star's Doug Smith is reporting Bryan Colangelo is working on a trade that would send PG Marcus Banks to Dallas for SG Matt Carroll. While Carroll's contract lasts longer than Banks, his shooting ability makes up for it. In his 7 year career, Carroll's shooting percentage from 3 point land is 40%. Not bad numbers for a Toronto Raptor team that is shooting orientated.

Carroll still has 4 years left on his contract--making $4.7M, $4.3M, $3.9M, and $3.5M respectively. Banks only has 2 years left on his deal, in which he'll make $4.53M next season, and $4.8M in 2010-2011. So financially, this could be considered questionable, but it's certainly an upgrade.

Banks never really worked out in Toronto. When he wasn't playing, he was hurt. When he wasn't hurt, he sat the bench. And in the rare occasion of when he did play, he was decent at best.

The irony of the trade? Banks will once again be joined with Shawn Marion.

Carroll has been all over the NBA in his 7 year career, playing for 4 teams. While he will fit into our system, finding minutes may be difficult-- the Raptors have DeRozan, Turkoglu, Jack, and Belinelli, so the wingman position is a little full.

I like this move--Banks wasn't going to play anyway, and at least the Raptors have a decent swingman to fit into the Raptors system. I don't think Carroll will play much, but I think he'll certainly get more time than Banks would have.

Man...the off-season moves keep coming.

Sources: Bucks to acquire Delfino

2009-08-18T07:09:00.000-07:00

Once again, the Toronto Raptors are set to make another off-season move.

According to ESPN's Marc Stein, the Raptors and Bucks have agreed in principle to a deal that would send Roko Ukic and Carlos Delfino via sign and trade to Milwaukee, while the Raptors recieve big man Amir Johnson and Sonny Weems.

Delfino, who played in Russia last season, is now a restricted free agent. Back in June, the Raptors gave Delfino a qualifying offer, but it was later withdrawn due to the Turkoglu signing. When Delfino last played for Toronto back in the 2007-2008 season, he put up career numbers--averaging 9.0 points and 4.4 rebounds in 23.5 minutes per game.

Roko Ukic is a guy who has a ton of potential, yet he hasn't lived up to it. While he showed flashes of being a great PG last season, he hasn't put it all together. Considering the Bucks lack of PG's, maybe Roko will get more opportunities to show what he's got.

Financially wise, this is an excellent move for the Raptors. Amir Johnson gets paid $3.5M next season, in which will be his final year under contract.

Personally, I don't mind this deal. I didn't expect Delfino to return anyway, considering the Raptors acquired Marco Belinelli, DeMar DeRozan, and Hedo Turkgolu this past off-season. But at least by getting Amir Johnson, the Raptors are getting something in return. It also doesn't look like Pops will be back in Toronto next year either. Rumors have spread that he's been visiting with the Rockets and Cavs. According to ESPN's John Hollinger, Johnson is actually a little underrated, and may find minutes in Toronto, unlike Detroit

2007-08 season: Remind me again why this guy didn't play more? Johnson shot 55.8 percent, had the second-best rate of blocks in basketball, ranked in the top third of centers in rebound rate, and lost his minutes in the postseason to Theo Ratliff. Really.

Sure, he's a bit raw. Johnson was mistake-prone, with 10 offensive fouls and six illegal defense violations in just 769 minutes, and he wasn't always in the right spots on D. But he was also devastatingly effective, ranking 14th among centers in PER. There is absolutely nothing in his track record to suggest this was a fluke either -- his numbers from his previous two D-League seasons and his scraps of NBA time have all been outstanding.

Scouting report: Johnson is listed at 6-9 because that was his height when he turned pro out of high school, but he now appears to be 6-11 or even seven feet. He has a thin frame and still needs to add muscle, and he has no perimeter game to speak of -- last year he was 5-for-26 on shots outside the immediate basket area.

However, he's a freak of an athlete. Johnson has made at least one crowd-wowing play every time I've seen him perform, whether it be a flying swat or a soaring follow dunk, and despite his slender frame he's a superb rebounder. Right now his biggest issue is his propensity for turnovers, but otherwise he appears to be one of the game's top big man prospects, a Marcus Camby in the making.

2008-09 outlook: Johnson unquestionably needs to play more, but it's hard to see how he'll crack a rotation that includes Antonio McDyess, Rasheed Wallace, Jason Maxiell, and Kwame Brown. OK, scratch that last part, but the first three guys will be difficult to displace. Somehow, the Pistons need to get this kid (he's still only 21) at least 20 minutes a night to let him develop, because game experience is probably his biggest need and he's shown he can run with the big boys.

Most similar at age: Andris Biedrins

All in all, Bryan Colangelo has made yet another quality move. Maybe Delfino and Roko are gone, but this off-season was all about re-shaping the franchise. The Raptors have done that. It's time to forget about the past players, and look into the future. With the moves the Raptors have made this summer, the team is certainly hoping a brighter future is in store.

Expectations for the 2009-2010 Raptors

2009-08-15T09:41:00.000-07:00

Considering the off-season Bryan Colangelo has put together, heavy expectations have now been placed on the Toronto Raptors. The last time the Raptors had these kind of expectations dates back in the 2007-2008 season, following their 47 win season--which they failed to live up to.

Now that the Raptors have brought in Hedo Turkoglu, Jarrett Jack, Rasho Nesterovic and Marco Belinelli, I can very well see this team right back in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

But the thing that sticks out in my mind, and will be a big reason WHY the Raptors are successful, is a healthy Jose Calderon. Back in Janurary, Calderon strained his hamstring, and for about 3 1/5 months, wasn't the same. He didn't get up and down the court like he did in November and December. He was more cautious. Now, he's had a full summer to let the hamstring heal, and I think his play will be a deciding factor as to how successful the Raptors will be. Many fans thought Calderon had a bad year last season--with another year of starting experience under his belt and a healthy leg, I think he'll silence those critics in 2009-2010.

I can very well see the Raptors getting the 4 seed, worst case scenario 5 seed, in next years playoffs. I don't think a first round exit is in store for the Raptors, either--at WORST, I think the Raptors will make the conference semi-finals. Bryan Colangelo has upgraded the Raptors tremendously, and I believe they will be right in the thick of things in the Eastern Conference.

Bryan Colangelo has done whatever he can to force Chris Bosh to stay in Toronto. This is a make or break year for Bosh--if the Raptors have another disappointment, you can kiss the Chris Bosh era goodbye. If the team does well, Bosh may stay.

Hopefully, all goes well in Raptorland in 2009-2010.

Congratulations, [Insert Name] you're the Toronto Raptors starting SG!

2009-08-11T10:47:00.000-07:00

Without a doubt, Bryan Colangelo has had a very good off-season. He's addressed key problems, while adding depth to the team, and putting the Raptors right back into the thick of the things in a competitive Eastern Conference.

Despite this, Raptor fans still have that one big question on their minds. Which shooting guard will Herbie Kuhn say when he announces the starting lineups on October 28th? Will it be DeMaaaaaaaaar DeRoooooooozan? Marrrrrrrrrcooooo Bellllllllinellllllli? Antooooooooine Wrrrrrrrrrright?

This is actually a pretty tough question, and I don't think we'll know until perhaps the pre-season. DeMar DeRozan has a very bright future ahead of him, but he needs more time to put the pieces together. Will he be ready to take on a starting role? Antoine Wright could also start, considering his exceptional defense. But does he have the shot consistency to be a starter? Marco Belinelli could also start, but I think the chances are slim. While he's talented, I don't think his defense is acceptable in a starting role. I think he's a guy who will give the Raptors a big boost off the bench.

In my opinion, it's a toss up between Antoine Wright and DeMar DeRozan. For the first few games, I wouldn't be surprised if DeRozan and Wright switch on and off for the starting position (DeRozan starts one game, comes off the bench next game....) But when it's all said and done, I think DeRozan will be full time starter at some point in the season. If he's not, I think he'll be considered as a somewhat bust, given his high draft pick and potential.

Whoever comes off the bench, however, will give the Raptors a big boost, and will contribute immediately. Bryan Colangelo has put together a great bench, and it's one of the big reasons why the Raptors will be successful next season.

Recapping the Weekend

2009-08-10T09:17:00.000-07:00

Pardon the lack of blogs these past few days--I was in Canton, Ohio for the Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony for the weekend and I was pretty swamped.

Not to much happening in the NBA right now--the off-season's lull continues.

On Friday, Rashard Lewis tested positive for elevated testosterone levels, and will be suspended for the first 10 regular season games.

Lewis said in a statement that he took an over-the-counter supplement late last season that included a substance he did not realize was banned by the NBA.

“First and foremost I take full responsibility for the situation and accept the corresponding penalty,” Lewis said. “I apologize to Magic fans, my teammates and this organization for not doing the research that should come with good judgment."

..how many times have we heard that?

Anyway, if I'm David Stern, I'm a little concerned. By no means are performance-enhancing drugs used in the NBA, but will this trigger other players to use them?

Linas Klieza has signed 2 year deal to play for Olympiakos. Klieza was rumored to play for Toronto, but when Marco Belinelli was acquired that rumor died.

LeBron James has made it pretty obvious he won't sign an extension this summer. ESPN is making a big deal out of this, but it comes as no surprise. In these type of situations, it's all about having the upper hand--because LeBron won't sign an extension, it only forces the Cavs' front office to make the team better. The same goes for Chris Bosh, Dwayne Wade, and all the other 2010 free agents.

Kurt Rambis will be named the Timberwolves head coach. I was a little surprised Sam Mitchell wasn't hired--he played for the team, and has the experience of head coaching. I still hope Mitchell finds work, because I have much respect for the guy, and wish him nothing but the best.

Top 5 2010 Breakout Teams

2009-08-07T18:58:00.000-07:00

A recent question on the Raptors Facebook group inclined to me write this blog. A few days ago, a fellow Raptor fan posed a very interesting question--who will be the top 10 breakout players in 2010? So, aroused by this question, I've been inclined to post who I believe will be the top 5 breakout teams come next season (10 breakout teams is too many). These teams may not make the playoffs, but may raise some eyebrows. And by the way, these are in order, so the #1 team will have the biggest breakout.

5. Charlotte Bobcats: I'm putting the Bobcats at #5 because they've somewhat already broken out. Last year, the Bobcats won 35 games and just missed the playoffs. Gerald Henderson may have a decent rookie year, and I'm still waiting for Raymond Felton's breakout season...will it finally happen?

4. Washington Wizards: Until Gilbert Arenas, Caron Butler, and Antwan Jamison can play 50+ games together, the Wizards will never be successful. But the Wizards did bring in some extra talent this off-season by adding Mike Miller and Randy Foye. Will the Wizards make the playoffs next year? Probably not, they didn't even crack 20 wins last year. But with the hiring of coach Flip Saunders, the Wizards will be much improved next year.

3. LA Clippers: Yeah I know--the Clippers only 19 games last year. But on paper, the Clippers have a pretty decent lineup. Baron Davis, WHEN MOTIVATED, is a very solid point guard. I also believe Marcus Camby had an off year last season, and he'll bounce back next year...and correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't the Clips draft Blake Griffin with the #1 pick? The Clippers won't make the playoffs next year, but they'll definitely be better than last year's disappointment.

2. Golden State Warriors: I'm calling it right now: When it's all said and done, Stephen Curry may be one of the better players to come out of the 2009 NBA Draft. And, yes, I know it doesn't mean much, but Anthony Randolph dropped 47 points in a summer league game. That's pretty impressive. I've already posted a blog about my playoff predictions, but I'll say it again--the Warriors may make a playoff push next year.

1. Oklahoma City Thunder: Sam Presti, Thunder GM, may be the smartest man in the business, in terms of building for the future. The Thunder are extremely young--Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are 20, Jeff Green is 22, and James Harden, who could win ROY is 19. I expect Kevin Durant to have a monster year next season, and he'll start to develop into one of the better players in the NBA. The Thunder won't make the playoffs next year either, but the young core may finally start to gel. Give it 3 more years, and the Thunder will be right into the thick of things in the playoffs.