This forum is a lonely place lately. Hopefully with the season starting tomorrow traffic will increase. SEASON GOAL Toronto only increased their win total last season by one game, 23 from 22, but did so in only 4/5ths of the total number of games, an adjusted improvement of nearly nine games. Working on that same pace will bring them a win total of 40 games this season, which would be enough to make the Eastern Conference Playoffs as a low seed. Realistically the Raptors will be fighting for 8th in the Conference barring catastrophe, which isn't uncommon with Toronto sports franchises. The Raptors, like the Jays, find themselves in a brutal division full of Conference Finals contenders, but could benefit from the demolition of the Orlando Magic, an Atlanta Hawks team flying lower, and a Jeremy Lin-less New York Knicks. Though Head Coach Duane Casey is generally well regarded by fans and the media, the defence-first coach needs to show demonstrable improvement this season, especially in terms of developing young talent including DeMar DeRozan and to a lesser extent Ed Davis. He's been given better tools this year with the addition of veteran point guard Kyle Lowry and wing Landry Fields, as well as promising but raw centre prospect in Jonas Valanciunas, and needs to utilize them to the fullest to keep the Raptors from wasting another year in anonymity. Goal: 37 wins, 8th seed in the playoffs KEY PLAYERS Raptors fans are keen on Kyle Lowry to reinvigorate the backcourt defence the team once had with the likes of Alvin Williams and Doug Christie. If there was a kink in Duane Casey's defensive schemes last season, it was the porous perimeter defending of former starting point guard Jose Calderon and scorer DeMar DeRozan, and the resulting problems with help defence and pick-and-roll rotations. Fans hope Lowry's active defending can stabilize the defensive sets and bolster the transition offence. Lowry will be counted on to add to the scoring as well, eclipsing the 15 points-per-game marker while facilitating offence for DeRozan and shooting big Andrea Bargnani. The aforementioned Italian big man, Bargnani, will be counted on to provide a primary scoring option and to take pressure off of Lowry. I don't know if anyone expects much improvement from Bargnani in any specific facet of the game. If the season slips away look for Bargnani to be on the trade block. Goal: borderline All-Star seasons for DeRozan and Lowry, 20ppg from Bargnani, meaningful bench contributions from Calderon and Davis ROOKIES The Raptors enter the 2012 campaign with two lottery picks, Jonas Valanciunas and Terrence Ross, in addition to 2nd-round pick Quincy Acy. Valanciunas has shown he has a head for the game and as such has been designated a starter by coach Casey. Ross is likely to be on the fringe of the 8-man rotation. Acy is expected to bounce between the NBA and the D. Perhaps the most vital player for the Raptors this season, in the eyes of the fans, is first year centre Valanciunas. The Lithuanian big man was drafted last season but opted to stay in Europe for one more year, delaying his official Raptors debut until tomorrow. Valanciunas has struggled in preseason play, especially on the defensive end, but has shown more than just flashes of his potential, leading many to speculate that his development arc could be quicker than expected. While most 7-footers are drafted and then made into basketball players, Valanciunas already is one who needs to be acclimated to the NBA style. He already has a good grasp of the game. Playing time will be more scattered for Ross, out of Washington. The smooth guard-forward is thin and weak but has so far impressed coach Casey. Unless he is able to provide consistent scoring off the bench, Casey may be inclined to utilize veteran wing Linas Kleiza more often. Ross' presence could be a threat to DeRozan should the rookie show more readiness than he has so far.
Great write up! I agree that we will be fighting for the 8th seed. We do play in a crazy division but theres lots pf questions. new York just lost amare for three weeks and most of they're roster is very old (and thus prone to injuries). Last year it took a miracle run by Lin for the team to reach the playoffs. It will also be interesting see how Bynum and the young sixers come together. Brooklyn is also a question mark, especially interior defense and a weak bench. That's not to say we don't have question marks of our own. Can demar prove that he is worth the extension he will likely get? Can Bargs continue his play from last season? Jonas is obviously the biggest piece. I thought he looked great in preseason, especially on defense and on the glass. He should def help make up bargnani's poor rebounding. Of course he will likely get foul trouble and some missed defensive assignments but the future looks bright for him. Lowry was a great addition. Not only is he a better scorer than Jose, he is leaps and bounds better on defense! He will provide some much needed leadership.
Yeah, great write up. My only nit is that it may take more than 37 wins to get 8th seed. Philly got it with a 35-31 (.530) in the strike shortened season. The Knicks may well be the team that drops out of the top 8 for the Raptors to make it.
Well, the balance of power may have shifted quite a bit to the East since then. Two of the better players in the West now play for the Knicks. That's sorta obvious, and off the top of my head.
Should've noted that Duane Casey will go 10-12 deep every game, take hot players out, put cold players in, and sabotage on-court chemistry at every whistle. Now I remember why I haven't watched the Raptors play more than a handful of games in the last six years...
Looks like he's a token starter, kind of like when Smitch was coaching and Colangelo was forcing players into the rotation. As soon as he missteps he's out.
That's extremely stupid. Casey had said that he was going to throw him to wolves but taking him out as soon as he makes a mistake is just dumb. And to take him out for Gray?!?! Atleast Ed Davis was playing decent. And what the hell was up with the lineups in the fourth? Dominic Mcguire is playing?
