The Raptors, because Bosh will be a 16/10/2/2.5 player next year, and Vince is staying according to Babcock and Mitchell's recent meeting with Vince. We also got a 4 year college player in Araujo, and I think he will be a serviceable role player, not a bust like everyone thinks. We also resigned a great slasher and 3 point shooter named Peterson and we got a player who was great off the bench for the Heat last year, so no one in the Atlantic is stopping the Raptors considering they're all crap. Pierce can't lead the Celtics because of their medicore supporting cast, the Knicks will least likely get Dampier, and the others aren't worth mentioning in the same breath as the Raptors.
I'm pretty sure there has been 2 of these threads, both in the celtics and raptors forums. So if you want to see most people's arguments look in those places.
raptors... our starting 5 speaks for itself. PG-Rafer ''Skip To My Lou'' Alston SG-Vince ''Air Canada'' Carter SF-Jalen Rose PF-Chris ''CB4'' Bosh C-Rafael Aruajo 6th Man of the year Donyell Marshall
Just like every off season most Raptors fans are overrating their team. Expecting way too much which ends up as another top 10 lottery pick. The Knicks have the best team in the atlantic even If they make no moves. A full season with Marbury and Tim Thomas should improve their overall record. Obviously they need a heathly Allen Houston to give them an outside threat. If he can't go then they will likely do a sign and trade for Jamal Crawford. It's very possible Isiah could grab both Dampier and Jamal. Which would be one hell of a summer for NY.
I say knicks and sixers own the division. Raptors are over rated imo. If they lose carter there franchise is done. Bosh doesnt have the bulk yet to be any type of force espcially now that shaq is in the east and they have to face him. He will not be a double double guy imo unless he hits the gym seriously. The sixers have allen iverson and have iggy. Along with a very deep young team with guys like dalembert and all of them there. Dalembert is 6'11"that is what he is recorded at on the sixers roster though I believe he is 7 feet. Salmons can play defense very well, Korver is a three point threat, iggy is a young athletic kid. The knicks if they sign one more free agent like crawford and or dampier they will be very good as well imo. The raptors have not done much this off season and may lose carter so for a team that didnt make the playoffs last year that isnt good. They need to make sure vince is healthy this year and rose or imo they dont have a chance at the playoffs.
I really can't say, no one right now because all these teams have had an can have injury problems that will hinder their performance. It can go to either of the Sixers, Knicks, Raptors or Celtics. They've all improved from last season, wheter it be players getting health or adding more depth, now we just have to see how the teams gel, who can stay healthy, and who can overachieve.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting DerfZ:</div><div class="quote_post">raptors... our starting 5 speaks for itself. PG-Rafer ''Skip To My Lou'' Alston SG-Vince ''Air Canada'' Carter SF-Jalen Rose PF-Chris ''CB4'' Bosh C-Rafael Aruajo 6th Man of the year Donyell Marshall</div> yes i see this being a breakout year for the raptors. But i'm also expecting somthing big from the celtics. so should be a good season for the atlantic division
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting DerfZ:</div><div class="quote_post">raptors... our starting 5 speaks for itself. PG-Rafer ''Skip To My Lou'' Alston SG-Vince ''Air Canada'' Carter SF-Jalen Rose PF-Chris ''CB4'' Bosh C-Rafael Aruajo 6th Man of the year Donyell Marshall</div> Heh, thats not the raptors starting five.. PG-Rafer SG-Rose SF-Carter PF-Donyell C-Bosh It will take time before aroujo can become a starting center. and carter is kinda undersized but has always played the small forward position since the start of his career. I am confident in the raptors for next season Bosh is already a double double guy.. And i also agree the raptors are a bit overrated and have high expectations... it will be an upset if they dont own their division. But i know they will own their division if Carter and bosh stay healthy.
first, Bosh is <u>not</u> going to be starting at the center position. He couldn't handle the power forwards all that well last year due to his lack of size in terms of weight, so how can he handle the center position this year? He will play the power forward position this year as he gained some weight (about 5-10 pounds) but is still not big enough. And just to answer it, Carter played shooting guard for some time in his career, which is why i too think he <u>should</u> play the 2 spot, but he is forced to play the 3 due to Jalen lack of size. The lineup will probably look like this: PG - Rafer Alston SG - Jalen Rose (even though i think it should be Vince SF - Vince Carter PF -Chris Bosh C - Rafael Araujo
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting allstar44:</div><div class="quote_post">Heh, thats not the raptors starting five.. PG-Rafer SG-Rose SF-Carter PF-Donyell C-Bosh It will take time before aroujo can become a starting center. and carter is kinda undersized but has always played the small forward position since the start of his career. I am confident in the raptors for next season Bosh is already a double double guy.. And i also agree the raptors are a bit overrated and have high expectations... it will be an upset if they dont own their division. But i know they will own their division if Carter and bosh stay healthy.</div> There's a reason Babcock drafted Araujo. He's 24, so its not like he's a project. He spent 4 years in College and is the most ready Center in the draft. If Babcock thought it was going to take time for Araujo to become a starting Center, then he would of drafted a Center with huge Potential and might take a coupl eof years to become a starting Center, in Robert Swift. The Raps need to win now, and need a big body inside to help Bosh. The 2004-2005 Season for Rafael won't be a learning session for him to learn how to become a starting C.
Bosh is gonna have a breakout season... i've seen him in the summer league!!!!!!!!!!! WHOAAAAAAAAA he's dunking on everyone, he's crossing ppl over too!!!! He became a 3 man in the summer league and he was killing it. I think Phillie will be 2nd cuz ouuta the 04 draft...Andre Igoudala and Jameer Neilson, but Andre Igoudala is going to be a franchise of phillie in a few years. he just has to become more agressive...he's to unselfish sometimes and ppl do the rasheed wallace-karl malone...which was no defense at all!!!!
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting DerfZ:</div><div class="quote_post">C-Rafael Aruajo </div> Hehehhe what a nice center to start in the East which has Shaq. This guys is a bust. The Raps need a decent center. This guy is a back up. I think The Sixers will come out of the East. They have A LOT more depth than The raps that have donyell marshall as their only strong bench player. Sixers were plauged by injurys last year and the raps were too. 1st Sixers 2nd Knicks 3rd Raptors 4th No one cares
