Toronto Raptors Player Updates After 40 Games

The Toronto Raptors found their form over the past 10 games, putting together a run of 7-3 to bring their record to 20-20.

Except for the disastrous 2-8 mark that included a season worst five-game losing streak following their 5-5 start to the season, the Raptors have been .500 or better in each 10-game segment at 6-4 and finally 7-3.

The Toronto Raptors are getting better as expected. The emergence of Andrea Bargnani as a defensive force, Jarrett Jack proving he can start when called upon, and the emergence of the Raptors “young guns” as a force to be reckoned with (at times), have propelled the team a .500 record overall.

And at the 40 game mark, the Toronto Raptors players have put together their best 10-game stretch of the season thus far.

Jose Calderon

In the 22nd game of the season versus Chicago, Calderon injured his hip and was unexpectedly sidelined for most of the next 13 games.

But since returning to the lineup five games ago, Calderon has re-established his role as Toronto’s best point guard, averaging 11.4 points and 5.2 assists in just 24.6 minutes off the bench.

In his last game against the Knicks, Calderon tied his season high in points, with 21 in just 26 minutes of action.

On the season Jose is averaging 11.6 points and 6.0 assists in 29.9 minutes, a significant drop from his 12.8 points and 8.9 assists last season. But with Turkoglu and Jack averaging 4.5 assists or better, it will be difficult for Calderon to hit last season’s numbers.

Since his return, Calderon has significantly elevated his level of play and is beginning to look more like the 2007-08 player who captured the hearts of Toronto fans.

DeMar DeRozan

DeMar DeRozan has started every game for the Raptors this season, but what has captured the media’s attention is the first ever “dunk-in” contest against Eric Gordon for an invitation to the NBA All-Star slam dunk competition.

After 40 starts in 40 games, DeRozan is averaging 8.1 points and 2.8 rebounds in just over 20 minutes per game. He is shooting 46.8 percent from the field, and his 0.6 blocks and 0.4 steals illustrate that he is active on defense.

In the past 10 games, his scoring has increased to 9.1 points on 56 percent shooting.

The Raptors have drafted a player!

Hedo Turkoglu

Toronto’s big free agent acquisition has taken some heat as of late for not living up to his big contract. But a more objective view might be that Turkoglu’s play has been wildly inconsistent and the recent complaints are resulting from his slow start in 2010.

By averaging 13.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 4.5 assists this season, Turkoglu has disappointed fans and media alike. That’s because last season in Orlando, Turkoglu averaged 16.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.9 assists.

But Turkoglu appears to have been nursing a sore back this season, and most of the drop-off in production can be found on the second night of back-to-back games.

With a more favorable schedule going forward, Turkoglu should be able to return to form in the second half of the season.

Perhaps the bad press has been just a little overstated.

Chris Bosh

Is there any doubt CB4 will be selected as an All-Star for his fifth consecutive season?

With 2009-10 as his best statistical season ever, Chris Bosh is averaging career highs in points and rebounds. After 40 games, CB4 has: 23.9 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in 35.3 minutes per game.

Bosh continues to average his lowest number of minutes played per game since his rookie year, and Bosh is playing 2.7 minutes less than last season. Hopefully, the new lighter load will keep Bosh on the floor for all 82 games this season.

Until the game in New York, Bosh had a streak of five games where he averaged over three assists per game, including a six assist game in the two-point win over the 76ers.

As a career 2.1 assist per game player, finding open teammates is perhaps the last offensive hole in Bosh’s arsenal.

Andrea Bargnani

Andrea Bargnani has finally broken out and put together a streak of games that shows just how dominant a center he can become in the NBA.

In the past 10 games, Bargnani has averaged 20.1 points on 49 percent shooting to go with 7.4 rebounds and, 2.0 blocks in 38 minutes per game.

And in the past five games, Andrea has averaged 9.6 rebounds, including a career high 17 against Indiana.

The Big B is on track for his best season in the NBA. So far, Bargnani is averaging career highs in points at 17.2, rebounds at 6.5, blocks at 1.4, and shooting percentage at 47.2.

It seems almost everyone has noticed the big improvement in Bargnani’s defense and rebounding as the season has moved along.

Why all the surprise?

Jarrett Jack

Jarrett Jack continues to start for the Toronto Raptors, and with the success the team has experienced, why mess with a good thing.

In the five games since Calderon has returned, Jack has averaged 11 points, 3.2 boards, and, 4.2 assists in 28.8 minutes. Combined with Calderon, those represent very impressive numbers from the point guard spot.

In his 18 games as a starter, Jack has averaged 12.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 5.6 assists in 32 minutes. While Jack may continue to start, his minutes could drop to his pre-starter's role minutes of 24 to 26 or less.

The signing of Jarrett Jack continues to make Bryan Colangelo look like a very wise GM.

Marco Belinelli

Belinelli has bounced back from his awful previous 10-game stretch of shooting just 31 percent from the field and averaging just 5.3 points to return to his season averages of about 8 points on 39 percent shooting in his past 10 games.

To be fair, we were warned! Belinelli is a player who is usually either very hot or very cold.

But Belinelli has been heating up lately. In his last four games, he has averaged 9.8 points on 50 percent shooting.

Amir Johnson

Amir Johnson has struggled recently.

As Andrea Bargnani’s play has improved and his minutes increased by about five per game, Johnson’s play has suffered and his minutes have dropped.

Over the first 30 games Johnson averaged 5.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 0.6 steals, and 0.7 blocks in 17.2 minutes.

In the past 10 games with Johnson averaging 15.3 minutes, and his production has slid to 2.9 points and 3.4 boards.

Plus, Johnson’s usually high shooting percentages have been dropping: from 66 percent in November, to 49 percent in December, to 38.5 percent in January.

The only good news comes from a jump in blocks to 1.1 per game over the past 10 games.

Johnson is just 22 years young, and he is still showing the heart, hustle, and potential that has been evident all season. But it would nice to see the young man show some progress on the offensive end of the floor.

Sonny Weems

Sonny Weems has found a spot in the Raptors' rotation, albeit not as big a spot as he initially received when he first sent Antoine Wright to the bench after the Atlanta debacle.

Over the past 10 games, Weems has averaged 5.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.4 steals, and 0.5 blocks while shooting 42.9 percent in 15.9 minutes per game.

His recent contributions were likely more representative of Weems' current ability than his initial five games in the rotation when he averaged 8.4 points on 50 percent shooting.

Sonny continues to be effective since being inserted into the rotation and does provide a significantly more athletic back-up wing player than Antoine Wright.

Antoine Wright

The Raptors' defensive specialist made a re-appearance over the past 10 games. In 13 minutes Wright averaged 3.4 points on 45 percent shooting, 1.6 rebounds, and 1.0 assists. But these numbers were grossly inflated by the 35 minutes Wright played against San Antonio.

The past five games are more representative of Wright’s current place in the Raptors rotation, with averages of 2.8 points, 1.0 rebounds, and 0.8 assists in 9.4 minutes.

And Wright’s 35.7 percent shooting over this period is unfortunately also more representative of his ability.

Marcus Banks

The return of Jose Calderon to the rotation meant the return of Marcus Banks to the bench.

The Raptors should be thankful for his contributions while Calderon was unavailable and be thankful that they are not presently required.

Stay ready Marcus. The Raptors may need you again.

The Rest of the Raptors

Rasho Nesterovic continues to get spot duty and remains surprisingly effective when called upon. Playing in just 21 games and averaging just 9.2 minutes, Nesterovic has put up 4.1 points and 2.1 rebounds per game.

The Raptors are fortunate to have a reserve big man who has put up four double-digit scoring efforts while never knowing if he’ll even play that night.

Reggie Evans remains out with a foot injury. His return date is still shrouded in mystery. Maybe next month?

Patrick O’Bryant continues to style from the sidelines in a suit most nights.

Pops Mensah Bonsu played in 16 games for the Raptors before finally getting his release in January. There just wasn’t any reason to keep another big man project on the roster.