Toronto Raptors 2013/14 Season

[octothorp]

Raptors have some big news today. I use the word 'big', but honestly I couldn't care less about these two things: they'll be hosting the 2016 All-star game, and Drake is announced as some sort of team ambassador and consultant. Also new jerseys and logo on the way, but no name change. I suppose when you're Toronto right now, any news that isn't negative is big news.

http://www.tsn.ca/nba/story/?id=433121



Still, with training camp just around the corner, this seems like a worthwhile story to kick off the 2013-14 season thread (Not to mention that the 2012-13 season thread has 666 posts in it with that last post by moon, which all seems too perfect to ruin).

Here's the training camp roster:

Quincy Acy
DJ Augustin
Dwight Buycks
Austin Daye
DeMar DeRozan
Landry Fields
Rudy Gay
Aaron Gray
Tyler Hansbrough
Amir Johnson
Kyle Lowry
Carlos Morais*
Steve Novak
Terrence Ross
Julyan Stone*
Jonas Valanciunas
Chris Wright*

*non-guaranteed contract

So the Raptors have 14 guaranteed contracts, plus 3 guys fighting for the last spot. I think it'll be Morais or Stone, but hard to say who Ujiri would prefer: he's got a connection to Stone from Denver, but has also shown an interest in African players like Morais.

[bluejays]

That's just an awful roster to field, but I don't mind it given the possible tank for the next couple seasons. As for the Drake connection, it's actually a smart move, and it reeks of something Leiweke strongly suggested, but it makes sense. Players for whatever reason, really like these kinda guys, and perhaps he can hype the city enough to get a couple marquee players to sign here when the time is right. I just hope they don't give Drake a hand in any personnel decisions.

[killer_carlson]

the Drake move is a shrewd move. I'm impressed with that one for sure.

[octothorp]

Originally Posted by fleury

That's just an awful roster to field, but I don't mind it given the possible tank for the next couple seasons. As for the Drake connection, it's actually a smart move, and it reeks of something Leiweke strongly suggested, but it makes sense. Players for whatever reason, really like these kinda guys, and perhaps he can hype the city enough to get a couple marquee players to sign here when the time is right. I just hope they don't give Drake a hand in any personnel decisions.

I think it's probably a stronger roster than last year's opening night roster when you swap Bargnani, Davis, Anderson, Calderon, Kleiza, Lucas and McGuire out and put in Gay, Hansbrough, Novak, Augustin, Daye and filler. It looks closer to just missing the playoffs than a legit tank, but one injury or trade could change that in a hurry.

[Hockey_Ninja]

Stink like poo for Andrew. That is all.

[St. Pats]

Originally Posted by Hockey_Ninja

Stink like poo for Andrew. That is all.

That would take some intelligent moves during the season. This is the Toronto Raptors we are talking about so they will probably finish just outside the playoffs. The draft is deeper than just Wiggins as well. Very strong draft class.

The only hope is that MU is shrewdly waiting till he can make some good deals.

[Julio]

First pre season game on NBA Canada tonight.

[octothorp]

Of course, everything gets the 'it's just preseason' caveat, but the starters, Hansborough, and Ross all looked good. I don't think there's much depth after that, though. (No Acy or Novak though, who are probably higher up the depth chart than a lot of the guys who played tonight).

Also, this Boston team could get out rebounded every night. Should be entertaining on offense, but definitely going to lose a lot.

[St. Pats]

Hansborough up to his usual antics even in the preseason. Got Sullinger's goat I think it was. I like this new element to the Raptors game.

[bluejays]

Toughness isn't going to win #### in the NBA. I'm all for guys who try and whatnot, but Hansborough's game is good only off the bench. If he's a starter the team is really in a rebuilding phase.

[octothorp]

I like the toughness for its ability to change momentum. I'd rather see a team try to change momentum with a banger rather than a shooter (like JL3). I don't want to see Hansborough as a starter. He's one of the better guys in the league at drawing unnecessary fouls, and something that the Raptors sucked at last year was really capitalizing on putting opponents in foul trouble. If he can be that guy who needles a guy into committing his fourth or fifth or sixth foul, that's a big plus.

I'm looking forward to seeing JV vs. Pekovic tonight, it'll be a real test to see whether his added bulk can make him more effective against heavyweight centres. I'd still expect Pekovic to be the stronger player in the post, but hopefully it'll be at least a fair fight this time.

[St. Pats]

Originally Posted by fleury

Toughness isn't going to win #### in the NBA. I'm all for guys who try and whatnot, but Hansborough's game is good only off the bench. If he's a starter the team is really in a rebuilding phase.

Lack of toughness kills you in any contact sport. Raptors have been notoriously wimpy and it's not good. Thankfully Val is bigger and tougher this year. Gay has put on a few pounds. Johnson was already tough if he is up against PF's. But they had nothing off the bench and no enforcer type. You need aggressive players to win.

Hansborough is unique in that he isn't just some one dimensional type. Guy can actually play sound fundamental ball but with a real edge. Will even put up points. Plus get some rebounds.

If they actually want to win games he will be part of the equation. Him and Ross better be good coming off the bench cause it's mediocre after the two of them.

[octothorp]

Quincy Acy gets his first preseason action with 6 minutes left in this game against the Knicks, and only goes for 9 points on perfect shooting (including one 3), a steal, a block, two drawn fouls, and +13. Impressive, even against the Knicks bench. He needs to be higher up the depth chart than guys like Austin Daye.

Overall though, this bench is going to have real problems.

[St. Pats]

Originally Posted by octothorp

Quincy Acy gets his first preseason action with 6 minutes left in this game against the Knicks, and only goes for 9 points on perfect shooting (including one 3), a steal, a block, two drawn fouls, and +13. Impressive, even against the Knicks bench. He needs to be higher up the depth chart than guys like Austin Daye.

Overall though, this bench is going to have real problems.

An even scarier thought is they look better than last years bench and yet your statement is still correct. A sixth man? Who the heck would that be? None of them can score the ball. A defensive stopper? Do they have anybody who is even above average? Maybe Novak can make some three's. They have some rebounding.

But yeah the dropoff will be very noticeable and then with injuries it will be problematic alright.

[octothorp]

Nice to see Ross and Fields both play well last night. But Ross has always had that sort of game, but sucks at consistency.

I think Stone has the last roster spot locked up. He's definitely getting much more of a look than Wright or Morais. I think he might even be higher up the depth chart than Buycks.

Also, it's awful that JV didn't even have a shot attempt until the second half, I think. He's got 15ppg potential already, but Casey's refusal to design any sort of offensive scheme that uses him is going to have me yelling at the TV all season.

[Hockey_Ninja]

With Gay and Derozan on this team, get used to Jonas not getting shots.

[St. Pats]

Originally Posted by octothorp

Nice to see Ross and Fields both play well last night. But Ross has always had that sort of game, but sucks at consistency.

I think Stone has the last roster spot locked up. He's definitely getting much more of a look than Wright or Morais. I think he might even be higher up the depth chart than Buycks.

Also, it's awful that JV didn't even have a shot attempt until the second half, I think. He's got 15ppg potential already, but Casey's refusal to design any sort of offensive scheme that uses him is going to have me yelling at the TV all season.

Well Casey did give some gobbledee#### answer to a question about his offensive sets that he was not going to reveal it in exhibition games. Sure dumbo Casey don't practice your offensive sets because you know them being a secret will just fool NBA teams.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by octothorp

Nice to see Ross and Fields both play well last night. But Ross has always had that sort of game, but sucks at consistency.

I think Stone has the last roster spot locked up. He's definitely getting much more of a look than Wright or Morais. I think he might even be higher up the depth chart than Buycks.

Also, it's awful that JV didn't even have a shot attempt until the second half, I think. He's got 15ppg potential already, but Casey's refusal to design any sort of offensive scheme that uses him is going to have me yelling at the TV all season.

For me, I don't want to offence to run around JV...yet. He's still pretty raw in a lot of ways. He's a big, and I'd like to see him work on his defence first, because that will be his meal ticket to being really good. First get his defence in stride, than look to develop his offence the second half of the season. The rest of the talentless group can work on the offence early on. It's difficult for a player to come in and learn both ends together. Once you give a raw guy carte blanche for just offence, you end up with a big like Bargnani.

[killer_carlson]

Dont run the offence through JV, but the guy should get 10 to 12 attempts per game minimum.

He is vastly under utilized to coddle Derozan's and Gay's ego.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by St. Pats

Lack of toughness kills you in any contact sport. Raptors have been notoriously wimpy and it's not good. Thankfully Val is bigger and tougher this year. Gay has put on a few pounds. Johnson was already tough if he is up against PF's. But they had nothing off the bench and no enforcer type. You need aggressive players to win.

Hansborough is unique in that he isn't just some one dimensional type. Guy can actually play sound fundamental ball but with a real edge. Will even put up points. Plus get some rebounds.

If they actually want to win games he will be part of the equation. Him and Ross better be good coming off the bench cause it's mediocre after the two of them.

I completely agree with your post, but you know that basketball is technically NOT a contact sport, right? Hence fouls for making physical contact with another player, similar to soccer.