2007: TJ Ford, Jose Calderon, Darrick Martin Anthony Parker, Morris Peterson, Juan Dixon Jorge Garbajosa, Joey Graham Chris Bosh, Kris Humphries Rasho Nesterovic, Andrea Bargnani Others: Fred Jones, Uros Slokar, PJ Tucker, Pape Sow, Luke Jackson 2010: Jose Calderon, Jarrett Jack, Quincy Douby Demar Derozan, Marco Belinelli Hedo Turkoglu, Antonie Wright Chris Bosh, Reggie Evans Andrea Bargnani, Rasho Nesterovic, Patrick O'Bryant Others: Amir Johnson (?), Marcus Banks/Matt Carroll, Sonny Weems (?)
Oh Jorge Garbajosa... how I miss you. Depends if you're just using the final record as your benchmark. This year's team might put up the same win total, or even less, but I do believe they are superior to the '07 Raps. That team has a distinct advantage in its playmaking and 3 pt. accuracy, but I think in every other category this year's Raps beats it out. It's core players are better (Bosh/Bargnani/Calderon/Turkoglu vs. Bosh/Ford/Calderon), not to mention Bosh and Calderon are now better. This years team has a much deeper bench, and that's significant, because the '07 squad was defined by their depth.
definitely the 2010 raptors. i think the 07 raptors were really a 41 win team but their opposition didnt take them seriously and as a consequence they got themselves 6 more wins than what they deserved
He was The best RAPTOR EVER! too bad his gone, I compare him to now days Lamar odom he was so versitile, which is why I picked 2007. Jorge was VERY underrated, he basically made everyone on the team look good. Plus the team made the playoffs after sum years and they got a banner (which is best representation of success). Even if raps are amazing this year they wont get a banner unless... (yea right lol)
Excellent post - beat me to it. I voted push because it depends on how you define "Best?". I think the 2010 has more talent and, if such a thing were possible, would beat the 2007 team in a 7-game series. However, I think the 2010 team will win fewer games. The 2007 team that won a franchise record 47 games had the benefit of playing in an incredibly weak division in an extremely weak conference. So, they were able to pad their win total against a bunch of patsies. Both the Eastern Conference and the Aantlantic Divison will be much tougher in 2010 than 2007. So, while the 2010 roster is "better" on paper, in the end I don't think they will win more than 45 games. Like the 2007 (and 2008) team, I expect another 1st round loss. This roster (weak rebounding and poor defense) is just not built for post season success. They would struggle to win a 1st round series with HCA (which I don't think they will have), but stand no chance of advancing as a 5 - 8 seed (my prediction is 45 wins, 6th seed, 1st round exit). BNM
45 wins in the east is the fourth seed. i love atl on paper but i dont trust them and they actually might be more porous defensively than the craptors, i mean raptors.
The 4th seed had 47 wins last season. If Atlanta falters, I suspect someone else (Miami perhaps) will step up. The East has gotten progressively better over the last 3 years. They still don't have the depth of the West, where 45 wins doesn't even make the play-offs, but they aren't nearly as pathetic as they used to be. BNM
Agreed, but I do think the middle teams have gotten better. I also think it will take more than 45 wins to get the 4th seed in the East. A very young Atlanta team won 47 games last season. The Heat, starting two rookies, won 43. Both teams were significantly improved from the previous season. I do think the 4th seed in the East is up for grabs. It will be interesting to see which team rises up and gets it. As you know from the prediction thread, the 45 wins I predicted for the Raptors is my "best case" prediction. Even if they pull that off, I don't think it will be enough to get them the 4th seed. BNM
u might be right because even the teams residing somewhere in the middle will feast off the bottom dwellers this year (e.g. the bucks, knicks, new jersey, indiana). with that being said- the fourth place team in the east will be grossly inferior to the fourth seed in the west
2010 fo sho. I had high hopes for Fred Jones until he thought he was the second coming of Reggie Miller. And I miss MoPete. He was a boss and just gave this team some more energy. But, this years team looks nice on paper and we'll have a nice 50+ win season.
