Toronto Raptors (09-10) Season Outlook

The Raptors return Jay Triano as Head Coach (25-40 as interim head coach) and will look to run and score in bunches. The Raptors will look to return to the top in the Eastern Conference after injuries struck the team drastically last season.

Bryan Colangelo made a controversial trade for Hedo Turkoglu after he first signed with Portland as a free agent (later deciding he didn’t fit with them) and signed free agent guard Jarrett Jack to bolster the defense and scoring while providing insurance in case of injury to Calderon.

Colangelo also acquired Evans and Wright through trade in order to provide toughness and improve the defense, he also drafted DeRozan to bring athleticism and hustle with loads of potential on both offense and defense.

The Raptors will look to improve both Bosh and Bargnani’s numbers with the up-tempo style on offense and will look for the addition of Turkoglu to do wonders for the offense with his playmaking and scoring. Colangelo has also built a solid core that should with a successful season make Bosh think twice about leaving next offseason in free agency.

Question marks for the team are: Will Turkoglu provide positive results and be a better choice than when they traded for Jermaine O’Neal?

Another question mark will be if the Raptors free agent acquisition of Jack will sit well with Calderon as he sets in to remain healthy and play big minutes at point guard.

Lastly, will the Raptors be able to turn potential into contributors (Johnson, DeRozan, Belinelli and Bargnani) and become one of the better perimeter teams in the league and a top four team in the east?

Starting Lineup

PG—Jose Calderon—Jose spent last season as the full time starter at point guard, he posted career highs in almost every statistical category—points per game (12.8), assists per game (8.9), minutes per game (34.3), steals (1.1), and rebounds per game (2.9)

He also led the league in free throw percentage at 98 percent. Jose will look to share duties this season with Jarrett Jack in the backcourt as they will both look to play a up-tempo style while constantly involving the offense and playing tough on defense.

SG—DeMar DeRozan—DeMar was drafted ninth overall after one season at USC by the Raptors based on the freakish potential he exhibits on offense. DeMar comes in with question marks surrounding his shooting touch, but with the ability to dunk at will and run the floor efficiently and effectively rebound should be given a strong chance to show what he can do in a solid 16-20 minutes of real game action with the starting unit.  

SF—Hedo Turkoglu—The Raptors prize transaction this season, Turkoglu will provide the Raptors with a tremendous playmaker (4.9 assists per game last season) who will become the immediate second option on offense. Hedo is a threat on the perimeter (38 percent from three-point land in his career) while also being able to post up smaller defensive players and score on the easy turn around shot.

He will be relied on less to score as the team has many scoring options, but will be looked upon to provide solid play making skills as he is capable of playing point forward when needed.

PF—Chris Bosh—The four time All-Star will look to improve on last season’s career scoring year (22 points per game) and return the Raptors to playoff form. Bosh added 20 pounds of muscle to his lanky frame in the offseason in order to help him with post position and also to endure the rigorous test of the season. 

Bosh is a solid defensive player (1.0 blocks per game) and rebounder (10.0 per game) who will thrive off of a playmaker such as Turkoglu and the addition of former Georgia Tech teammate Jarrett Jack.

C—Andrea Bargnani—Andrea is a outstanding perimeter shooter (40 percent last season on three-pointers) for his size (7’0'') and the former No. 1 overall pick will look to expand his game this season after posting career high’s in points per game (15.4) and rebounds per game (5.3) in 31.4 minutes per game.

Andrea has also improved his defense each season (1.2 blocks per game last season) and will also look to partner with countryman and new teammate Marco Belinelli to improve the Raptors energizing outside shooting attack.

Bench

G—Marco Belinelli—Marco is a fantastic outside shooter (39.7 percent from three last year) who was stuck in Golden State where he was never really given a consistent chance to show he could do more than spot up. Marco will provide loads of offense off the bench and will look to play big minutes and work on his playmaking skills as posted career highs in scoring and passing last season (9.0 points per game, 2.1 assists per game).

G—Jarrett Jack—Jack spent last season in Indiana and will look to continue his role as a tough defender and a spark plug off the bench as a sixth man. Jack is a score-first point guard (13.1 points per game last season) and must improve his assists per game (4.1) for the Raptors to be an effective second unit. Jack will along with Evans, Nesterovic and Wright provide one of the better defensive second units in the league.

G—Quincy Douby—Douby is a fantastic outside shooter (44 percent on three-pointers last season) and will look to win the third-string point guard job in training camp over Banks. Douby will provide solid offensive impact in the limited minutes he receives but will not offer much on defense.

G—Marcus Banks—Marcus is a mixed bag, he can excel in one game and then look lost the next, although he is a point guard, he fails often to make good passes and lacks consistent shooting. Banks will again be a candidate for limited minutes and although he is a tough defender is not a part of the teams plan.

G—Sonny Weems—Weems did not play much last season, instead was relegated to the D-League for seasoning. Weems has the ability to play both guard positions and small forward with is height (6’6'').While he is a terrific scorer and capable rebounder, he lacks defensive skills and will find it hard to win minutes off the bench with such a deep team.

F—Antoine Wright—Antoine is a terrific defender who excels as the perfect role player who will score in transition but counts more on his defense to make a impact. Antoine started last season for Dallas and will look to battle Belinelli and DeRozan for the starting two-guard spot but will most likely fit as a game changing defender off the bench along with Jack and Evans.

F—Reggie Evans—Evans comes over from the 76ers for Jason Kapono and immediately bolsters the Raptors rebounding and toughness off the bench. Evans will not look to score, but will fill the defense with hustle and plays that do not show up on the stat sheet while setting a veteran example for his teammates. Evans will battle Johnson for minutes off the bench at power forward.  

F—Amir Johnson—Amir will get his first chance to be a energy and hustle player off the bench in more than spot minutes after being drafted out of high school by Detroit in 2005. Amir does not bring much on offense beyond hustle and highlight dunks, hence he will be the glue guy off the bench who produces blocks and rebounds as well as being versatile enough to cover all three front court positions.

C—Patrick O’Bryant—Patrick never lived up to the hype in Golden State and slightly improved last season with the Raptors after a unsuccessful season with Boston the year before. Patrick is very limited on offense and part of it is due to being in Nellie’s (Golden State) up-tempo style as a rookie as he is more of a half court post-up center. Patrick’s raw ability will look to thrive in Toronto as he is being looked at to become the backup center but must battle Nesterovic for minutes in camp.

C—Rasho Nesterovic—Rasho started last season for the Pacers and will provide solid rebounding and toughness off the bench this season in his return to the team. Rasho will help anchor the teams limited defense while providing  the Raptors with a big man to combat the better centers in the east or at the very least provide six fouls against them.

Season Record: 45-37 Overall and fifth in the Eastern Conference