reflections
October 30th, 2007 Preseason Preview: Toronto Raptors

Toronto Raptors

2006-07 record: 47-35 1st in the Atlantic

Added: Maceo Baston, Jason Kapono, Jamario Moon

Lost: Luke Jackson, Morris Peterson, Pape Sow, P.J. Tucker

PG: T.J. Ford, Jose Calderon, Darrick Martin

SG: Anthony Parker, Juan Dixon, Carlos Delfino

SF: Jason Kapono, Joey Graham, Jamario Moon

PF: Chris Bosh, Jorge Garbajosa, Kris Humphries, Maceo Baston

C: Andrea Bargnani, Rasho Nesterovic

 

Versus Bulls

2006-07

Home Fri. December 8, W 93-90

Away Fri. December 28, W 107-97

Home Tue. February 13, L 111-112

Away Sun. April 8, L 89-103

2007-08

Home Sat. November 10, 7:30PM

Away Sun. November 25, 11AM

Home Wed. April 16, 7:30PM

Overview:

The Raptors became the darlings of the league last season emerging from the much of the Atlantic division to win 47 games, a 20 game improvement from the previous season. They were high scoring, energetic, and getting key contributions from a roster full of no-names. All the experts ripped them for trading Charlie Villanueva, how’d that work out? They laughed at bringing back Anthony Parker after failing in the NBA a decade ago. Jorge Garbajosa wasn’t a household name. Andrea Bargnani was the #1 pick, but few Americans had ever seen him play. It worked. It was great to see. They were not Chris and the Boshettes, they were just a talented, hungry team that got it done.

It is going to kill me to write it, but I don’t think that they will have an encore performance. Lost amid the good story was the fact that they won the Atlantic because Philadelphia, Boston, and New York were a mess, and New Jersey was battling injuries all year. The Nets exposed the Raptors for being just a good team last April in the 1st round of the playoffs. They couldn’t contain Jason Kidd or stop Vince Carter. Now with the additions of Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Zach Randolph, and the return of Ricard Jefferson and Nenad Krstic, I’m not so sure that the Raptors can play .500 ball within the division. Last season’s 11-5 mark within the division was second to only the Bulls, 12-4, in the East and 3rd in the NBA, the Mavericks were the best at 14-2. A better division might send Toronto back to being a .500 team.

What they mean for the Bulls?

Much like the Celtics and Magic, I think the presence of Chris Bosh on the floor is an unwelcome sight at the United Center. Other than the games where he was slowed or missing with an early season knee injury, he massacred Ben Wallace on the offensive end. It isn’t fair for Ben Wallace to have to guard a guy like Bosh. He’s 23 years old, incredible athlete, has the ability go out on the perimeter because he has a face up game and a 15-footer, and is a great finisher around the hoop. With the shooters around him in Bargnani, Kapono, Parker, Dixon, and Garbajosa, how do you give help? I just don’t like the way the Bulls match up with the Raptors, and Bulls fans might hope that the Atlantic offers better resistance this year.

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