Toronto Raptors: What Should the Team Do to Find Consistent Success?
The Toronto Raptors entered the 2010-2011 season with little expectations after the departure of their All-Star Chris Bosh.
So far this season, they really have not passed their expectations, nor have they gone below them. As of right now, the Raptors cannot do much in order to change things other than stay at the position where they are.
The Raptors should not stop playing basketball, though. Andrea Bargnani and DeMar DeRozan are playing very good basketball, Jose Calderon is becoming his old self as a great passer, Amir Johnson is looking like a nice draft steal, Ed Davis is looking to be the best defensive Raptor and finally it seems as if the Raptors made a smart move in acquiring James Johnson.
It is highly unlikely the Raptors will win all of their next games and make the playoffs, but us Raptor fans should keep our heads up. Things are about to change in the NBA, as the Raptors and their strong, young core are going to be making a splash in upcoming seasons.
Improve DeRozan's Jumper
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DeMar DeRozan is going to be a huge hit in this league. He has already established himself as one of the best dunkers in the league, but he is more than that.
DeRozan is a very dangerous player when he drives to the basket and can make some contact to get some free throws for easy points. He is dangerous from close range and under the basket, as he can do some work.
What most players and fans already know about DeRozan is that he is not the best shooter in this league. Most teams leave DeMar open from mid-range and long mostly because he has trouble making those shots.
He can knock down about 4-of-9 from mid-range and only 1-of-10 from long range, which shows he has his struggles.
If DeRozan can work on his jump shot a bit more this summer in the gym, he can become one of the most dangerous scorers in this league. Not only that, but he will also become a legit 22 PPG player, possibly more.
Bring in a True Center
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As of right now, and until the season ends, Andrea Bargnani is the starting center for the Toronto Raptors. Do not get me wrong—Bargnani is my favorite player and is one of the most dangerous scorers in this league—but his rebounding numbers are not numbers for his position.
Entering the NBA, Bargnani was a 6'10" power forward and never expected to grow the extra two extra inches that he did.
Bargnani was someone who was not used to the center position and was somewhat forced there after his second season in the NBA.
Marc Gasol, who is a restricted free agent (RFA) this coming offseason, is someone who has been on the Raptors' radar for quite some time. Expect the Raptors to make a move for Pau's younger brother.
The Raptors tried to bring in a true center in Andrew Bynum but were unable to and failed to do so last offseason.
Move Andrea Bargnani to PF
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This slide is the second part to the one previous.
If the Raptors can bring in someone who can honestly play the center position, which Bargnani has some trouble with, then they can move Bargnani to power forward, and the Raptors might be able to have one of the top offensive frontcourts in the league.
With the transition to power forward, Bargnani will have less of a burden on his back about rebounding the ball, and can focus more on what he's used to doing, which is scoring.
With that transition, Bargnani will have to improve his defense, as the PF position brings in a lot of tough competitors, such as LaMarcus Aldridge, Amar'e Stoudemire, and Carlos Boozer.
Make a Smart Draft Move
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The draft is the way most teams rebuild, and the Raptors have made a couple of smart moves in this area, as well as some horrible decisions.
This year's draft class is filled with players with a lot of potential, so hopefully the Raptors can snag one of them and the team can inch closer towards the NBA playoffs as the years go by.
As of right now, the best choices for the Raptors would be:
* Turkey's Enes Kanter
* Baylor's Perry Jones
* Duke's Kyrie Irving
* Kentucky's Terrence Jones
The Raptors know that Jose Calderon will be indeed losing his game in the next couple of seasons, and Irving can fill the void, whereas if the James Johnson experiment does not work out, there is Terrence or Perry Jones. Last but not least, the need for a true big man may not need to be a free agent signing, but the drafting of Enes Kanter.
Let Ed Davis Work on His Offensive Game
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Ed Davis has already proven to both Raptors fans and staff that he is capable of being a very tough defender and rebounder for the opponent.
Although his defense is the best aspect of his game, he must also work on his offense. Davis' jump shot is not very good, and his post moves are limited. His free-throw shooting is also a weak point of his game.
If he can improve these during the offseason, Davis can easily become a very good all-around player.
Coming off the bench, Davis is already averaging six points and six rebounds with just a little over one block per game.
If Bargnani were to make the transition to power forward, one may think Davis will be pushed lower on the depth chart, but Amir Johnson can also play the center position, so Amir can be the backup for whoever Toronto brings in, and Davis can back up Barg.
Start James Johnson over Linas Kleiza When He Returns
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Linas Kleiza was brought in by Bryan Colangelo to upgrade the 3 position on the Raptors depth chart.
Unfortunately for Raptors fans, Kleiza had an injury, and the Raptors' best player at that position was down. Julian Wright and Sonny Weems were unable to find consistency in their game, which forced BC to bring in another small forward.
BC brought in James Johnson, a 16th overall pick by the Chicago Bulls, who was said to have huge talent but was very lazy. In return, the Raptors gave up their first-round pick via the Miami Heat.
Johnson has impressed most of us, and it seems that he can take the starting job with the way he is playing. He has shown no signs of laziness and possibly just needed a new change of scenery to perform his best basketball.
Thanks for Reading
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Thanks for reading guys!
Hope you enjoyed the article, and let all of us Raptors fans have hope in this team that they can one day become contenders for a championship and become champions.
It will be a long process and will take some time, but great things in life are always worth waiting for.
I'm looking to collect any Andrea Bargnani or DeMar DeRozan basketball cards (mostly jersey and autographed cards), so if you have any and are willing to trade with me, send me a message on Bleacher Report.
I will be writing more articles soon.
