Toronto Raptors Are Magically Knocked Out in Orlando

The big piece to the puzzle though is Greg Oden. This was a problem this year, and they have their solution: getting healthy and strong for next season. The Raptors, on the other hand, do not have the solution training somewhere in a high tech facility/gym. They don’t have that solution at all.

It is no surprise why The Raptors took a seven footer first overall in the 06/07 draft. As well as a big, talented Spaniard in Garbo, but it is becoming evident that Andrea Bargnani will not be the answer to their rebounding woes.

The Raps need a big man, plain and simple. They have all the tools like the Trailblazers do. But unlike them, there is no Greg Oden ready to put on a Raptors jersey next year.     

Hopefully, this playoff series against the Magic was a wake up call for Bryan Colangelo and this organization. The call should not come as a surprise; I mean the series was a culmination of the Raptors season, to the tee.

One game they show highlights of greatness, rebounding, hitting three-pointers, just firing on all cylinders.

Then the very next game, you have T.J ford taking impossible fade-away jumpers five times a game and Dwight Howard getting a free pass up the lane to do whatever he wants.

This is how the season was, not enough rebounds and second opportunity points. An actual Center is what the team need if they ever want to get out of the first round of the playoffs.

I will admit it is easier said then done, due to the shortage of true strong Centers in the game. So how about we get into the three pointers that Orlando was able to take?

It is quite hard to get a rebound against Dwight Howard, but what is very attainable is getting a hand in the face of Jameer Nelson or Rashard Lewis when they or anyone may go for a three ball.

The 91 total rebounds Dwight accumulated over the series are nauseating, but the open looks that the Raptors gave them is almost equally as sickening.

The percentages were bad, so very bad for a playoff game. And it seemed like the Magic constantly had room and time to make shots that the had no business making.     

Bryan Colangelo is one of the best GMs in the league, but he better put his thinking cap back on after this series, because that high paced, exciting ball that he has created, needs help in Toronto.

He took this team from rags to a Division Championship, a trophy he can pretty much kiss goodbye for the years to come. The Celtics will be taking that home from now on, and he'll have to think about how he can win playoff games. 

This team is good but could drop so easily in the upcoming years what with the rising talent in all the other teams in the East, especially those directly under them.

It's going to be tough, but moves have to be made. The Raptors are slipping, and if Colangelo is the basketball genius he is, he will see that and work some Magic between now and October to avoid the Magic working his team over in the years to come.  

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