2008-09 Toronto Raptors Preview
Sports Network | October 21, 2008
The Raptors and coach Sam Mitchell will hope O'Neal meshes quickly with Bosh and get the franchise going back in the right direction.
After a breakthrough 47-win season in 2006-07 and an Atlantic Division championship, Toronto faltered and finished at .500 before bowing out to Orlando in the first round of the playoffs last season.
The addition of O'Neal and a more-defined point guard situation may have the Raptors headed back in the right direction.
"Nobody has two all-stars inside like we have," Calderon said. "(O'Neal's) one of the best inside players in the game. I think we're really lucky."
2007-08 Results: 41-41, lost to Orlando in first round of playoffs.
ADDITIONS: Hassan Adams (F/G) - Free Agent; Nathan Jawai (C) - Trade with Indiana; Jermaine O'Neal (F) - Trade with Indiana; Will Solomon (G) - Free Agent; Roko Ukic (G) - 2005 second-round draft pick.
SUBTRACTIONS: Maceo Baston (F) - Traded to Indiana; T.J. Ford (G) - Traded to Indiana; Rasho Nesterovic (C) - Traded to Indiana; Carlos Delfino (G) - Signed to play in Russia.
RE-SIGNINGS: Jose Calderon (G).
2008 DRAFT PICKS: 1. (17) Roy Hibbert (C, Georgetown) - Traded to Indiana.
PROJECTED STARTING FIVE:
PG- Jose Calderon SG- Anthony Parker SF- Jamario Moon PF- Chris Bosh C- Jermaine O'Neal
KEY RESERVES: Andrea Bargnani (C/F); Joey Graham (F); Kris Humphries (F); Jason Kapono (F); Roko Ukic (G)
FRONTCOURT: When healthy, O'Neal is one of the best low-post defenders in the league, an excellent rebounder and above-average scorer. O'Neal plays so hard, his health is always huge problem, however, and he is usually fighting some kind of nagging injury.
O'Neal will also make things easier on Bosh, one of the best power forwards in the game. Bosh has improved at a rapid pace, perhaps since he loves the game so much. The Olympian has played international basketball for three summers in a row so he rarely takes a break from the hardwood.
"Both of them can run so I see that as a big advantage for us," Calderon said. "A lot of big guys can't really run like Chris and Jermaine. On offense for sure they're going to give us everything. Both guys will have more space because of the other guy. It's going to be interesting. On both ends of the court, we'll be really good."
Jamario Moon is a self-made player at small forward that works hard on the defensive end and can knock down the open shot when its afforded to him.
BACKCOURT: The Raptors went through a quarterback controversy last year. Ford was the incumbent but Calderon played better, especially when Ford was out for 24 games in the middle of the season. Despite that, Ford was back in the starting lineup for the stretch run and in the postseason.
Finally, it's Calderon's team. The Spanish star is a great floor general with the ability to get the ball to people in the right spots. Whether he can hold up for a full season at 35 minutes a night has to be the biggest question mark.
Anthony Parker is not your preferred shooting guard since he will never night it up but with a team like the Raptors, who have better offensive options, he is a helpful player.
BENCH: Andrea Bargnani, a former No. 1 overall pick has been a disappointment. He played through a deviated septum and an enlarged adenoid last season so there is hope his brief flashes of brilliance will come more consistently in 2008-09. With O'Neal on board, the pressure on Bargnani to produce has been lifted and he may fit in better as a role player.
Jason Kapono is the weak side sharp-shooter you need to take advantage of the low post options Bosh and O'Neal bring to the table, while Joey Graham is a live body that can give you 15 or so solid minutes a night.
Kris Humphries is best suited running the floor but needs to improve his defense and rebounding.
OUTLOOK: So much depends on O'Neal's ability to be on the floor consistently.
With Calderon feeding the ball to Bosh and O'Neal on the break or in the low post, it's not hard to imagine Toronto garnering a top four seed in the East.
