Time for a new thread for the Raptors. With the NHL looking like they are taking a season off we will be watching a whole lot more of other sports including Bball.
What's new for the Raptors?
1. Casey has an actual training camp to implement his system. Don't think anything else is more of a factor than this as they are going nowhere unless he drags them there through some stellar coaching.
2. Some new players in the lineup. Lowry, Val(I ain't typing his name all year long), Fields, Ross(some others but this is the main group) Other than Lowry what they get from these 3 is hard to know. All have potential with Val having oodles but this year it's hard to see them making much of an impact.
3. The players they do have are back healthy again. Some like Jose will have reduced roles. Some like Davis and DD better make a marked improvement or they will be elsewhere. Others will be their usual steady selves.
I'm personally thinking they win 30-35 games. So a small improvement because if they played a full season last year I believe it rated out to 29 wins.
If the Olympics were any indication, Valanciunas will need to adjust to the physical nature of the game without getting into foul trouble. He didn't get much playing time in the Olympics because of it. But he'll contribute right away as an energy/hustle guy.
I actually think the Raptors can make the playoffs this year. Their defensive improvements last year were outstanding, and Kyle Lowry should make a big difference. My prediction sadly is for a heartbreaking 9th place in the East.
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"Think I'm gonna be the scapegoat for the whole damn machine? Sheeee......."
9th in the east might actually be a pretty good outcome: get the first-rounder to Houston out of the way with a low lottery in what's expected to be a poor draft year. The Northeast is probably the most balanced division in the league this year... any of those five teams could make the playoffs or miss the playoffs, in my opinion.
I'm excited about Lowry. I was really pissed off when the Raptors didn't make a move for him on draft night, but it turned out we got a better deal by waiting. Ross and Valanciunas will be fun to watch, but I don't expect either to have a big impact this year. I'm hoping that the team finds a way to hang on to Calderon, because he's a great second-unit facilitator, and I could imaging both JV and Ross thriving offensively with him.
This is the year that DeRozan needs to establish whether he's a legit star or trade fodder. Right now I'm leaning towards the latter, but I hope he proves me wrong.
9th in the east might actually be a pretty good outcome: get the first-rounder to Houston out of the way with a low lottery in what's expected to be a poor draft year. The Northeast is probably the most balanced division in the league this year... any of those five teams could make the playoffs or miss the playoffs, in my opinion.
I'm excited about Lowry. I was really pissed off when the Raptors didn't make a move for him on draft night, but it turned out we got a better deal by waiting. Ross and Valanciunas will be fun to watch, but I don't expect either to have a big impact this year. I'm hoping that the team finds a way to hang on to Calderon, because he's a great second-unit facilitator, and I could imaging both JV and Ross thriving offensively with him.
This is the year that DeRozan needs to establish whether he's a legit star or trade fodder. Right now I'm leaning towards the latter, but I hope he proves me wrong.
DD better improve or Ross could snag his spot. DD's offensive efficiency was horrible. I think his only hope is apparently Casey is going to have the team fastbreak this year. Makes sense with Lowry out there at PG. But his defense is brutal.
By the end of the year I wouldn't be surprised to see a lineup of :
Lowry
Ross
Fields
Bargnani
Val
For now though I'm thinking Grey will be a starter against the big centers, which is funny(he can play against them it's just sorta amusing him being a starter), and Amir against the small ones. DD will start and Jose will come off the bench with Ross, Kleiza, Val and Davis.
Lowry/ Jose
DD/Ross
Fields/Kleiza
Bargs/Davis
Amir/Grey/Val
don't forget we signed dominic mcguire. he'll probably become a casey favorite because of the way he Ds
I don't doubt he will get a few minutes in specialty situations. I think Casey is really going to micromanage this year in an attempt to make the playoffs. Offensive lineups, defensive ones, ones that just tread water. O and D switches during the closing of games. He has really no choice as he can't put a lineup out there that is full of good two way players. Plus he has to work in two rookies.
I think the only real favorites he will have are those who are playing well that particular game.
he always looks like that in the offseason.....never seems to translate to the nba
Plus wasn't that in some bozo thing called the Drew League? But it is how he is going to have to score this year. On the run with Lowry and not him trying to create his own shot which he sucks at. Lowry could save the guy in his contract year.
JV making his debut tonight. Only going to play 10-12 minuets though. Anybody catch the first pre-season game? I only watched a little of the 3rd quarter before the stream i was watching it with went down.
I just saw a few minutes... couldn't get a decent feed. I did see one JV shift. His defense looked great, and on offense he was moving really well. As soon as his teammates learn how and when to find him, he should get decent offensive numbers at a high percentage. I was surprised to see he finished with no rebounds; I remember thinking his positioning looked solid. Hopefully I'll get to watch more of the game tonight.
Looks much better tonight. Jeez, he moves so well without the ball and his court-vision at both ends is great. And he's already got one of the smoothest foul-shots of any big-man in the league. It's that good. Ed Davis also playing great tonight.
I'm also very impressed with Lucas. He was a guy who I hadn't seen a lot of and didn't have a very favorable impression, but he's a far better distributor than I had been lead to believe. Bargnani's still struggling offensively, but he's working pretty hard and smart on defense, which is all I want to see from him in the preseason.
Also seeing a very aggressive DeRozan tonight. That's a good sign.
I think JV will need to learn to not rush things offensively. Concentrate on doing one thing at a time: catch, pivot, pump-fake, dunk.
Ah man. Last minute, one-possession game. JV gets the ball with four seconds left on the shot-clock, doesn't panic and calmly makes a big, sweeping hook. Definitely wasn't a perfect game from him, but the things he does well are things you don't expect a 20-year-old to do well. I love that Casey gave him 28 minutes tonight, so that he can really get a feel for what the game is going to be like.
Very nice clutch hook by JV tonight. He's played very well. And i agree that Lucas has been impressive. If one of Lowry or Calderon get injured for a significant amount of time during the season he should be a solid back up PG.
Looks much better tonight. Jeez, he moves so well without the ball and his court-vision at both ends is great. And he's already got one of the smoothest foul-shots of any big-man in the league. It's that good. Ed Davis also playing great tonight.
I'm also very impressed with Lucas. He was a guy who I hadn't seen a lot of and didn't have a very favorable impression, but he's a far better distributor than I had been lead to believe. Bargnani's still struggling offensively, but he's working pretty hard and smart on defense, which is all I want to see from him in the preseason.
Also seeing a very aggressive DeRozan tonight. That's a good sign.
I think JV will need to learn to not rush things offensively. Concentrate on doing one thing at a time: catch, pivot, pump-fake, dunk.
Ah man. Last minute, one-possession game. JV gets the ball with four seconds left on the shot-clock, doesn't panic and calmly makes a big, sweeping hook. Definitely wasn't a perfect game from him, but the things he does well are things you don't expect a 20-year-old to do well. I love that Casey gave him 28 minutes tonight, so that he can really get a feel for what the game is going to be like.
Lucas missed JV etc wide open underneath over and over. He wasn't alone in that and I'm sure they all need to get used to each other. But I see him only entering games for one reason - to score points. There really isn't very many minutes available for him without a trade/injury. Lowry will play a lot and Jose will get the backup minutes.
Unless BC could somehow do a move with Jose plus for an upgrade at small forward. Haven't heard of anyone who is available especially for what the Raps have to offer so my guess is we will be watching Jose till the deadline.
Well JV is erasing any doubt that he will be the starter. Rebounds galore, hustles, very solid defensively. His offence is hmmm but they got a good pick. They look like they are going to be far more competitive this year. They can chuck a lot of decent players on the court who put in a good effort especially on defence. Plus a good coach. Should be a whole lot more fun than last year.
Yeah, that block on Amare made me stand up and give a fist pump. During the last 10 minutes of the game, he had a huge impact just by hustling for rebounds and altering shots.
I watched the game as well, and was really happy at JV's effort. What I like most about him is he isn't intimidated - he's got the attitude that Bargnani should have. I wonder how much of his attitude will actually rub off on the older Bargs. I still don't think they should rush the guy by giving him the starting C position night after night, but if they ease him in he should be just fine.
Toronto Raptors 2012/2013 season
