The Raptors underwent a major cultural shift last season when they brought in Dwane Casey as head coach. Casey is a defence first guy who empasizes work and hustle.
Despite the shortened 2012 offseason Casey was able to make strides with the Raptors young core and get them to buy into his philosphy. Even Andre Bargnani blocked out a few times.
The extra effort translated into a record of 23-33, a big improvement on the team's 22-60 record from 2010-11. Unfortunately for Raptors fans that wasn't enough to get back into the playoffs as the team missed out for the fourth successive season.
Additions: G Landry Fields, G Kyle Lowry, G John Lucas III, C Jonas Valanciunas, Justin Hamilton
Subtractions: G Jerryd Bayless, F Gary Forbes, F James Johnson
| 1 (8) |
Terrence Ross |
SG |
Washington |
SG Terrence Ross |
| Analysis: The Raptors get an explosive athlete with a quick first step and good range on his shot in Ross. He'll need to add strength and a better mid-court game to make a significant impact but he should earn minutes in his rookie season. |
| 2 (37) |
Quincy Acy |
PF |
Baylor |
| Analysis: At 6-foot-7 he is undersized for the 4 spot but has a massive 7-foot-4 wingspan. Acy is a good athlete, a solid defender and should impress with his blue collar work ethic. |
| 2 (56) |
Tomislav Zubcic |
F |
Cibona Zagreb (Croatia) |
| Zubcic has good athleticism for a 7-footer and can shoot from range. Needs to add a lot of strength and work on rebounding. Wait a few years to see if he pans out. |
| » Complete NBA Draft Results |
THE GOOD
1. Defensive Building Blocks - The Raptors were the most improved defensive team in the league last season, allowing 8.5 fewer points per 100 possessions than they did in 2010-11, when they ranked 30th in defensive efficiency. That's all on Casey getting the Raptors to buy into his philosophy. With a full off-season and training camp to work with his young core Casey should have the Raptors even better this year.
2. Two for One - Last year it seemed like the team had no first round pick because of Valanciunas staying in Lithuania. This year the team gets to reap the benefits. Most GMs agreed that the the No. 5 pick in 2011 would have been the No. 2 pick this year. Adding Valanciunas to Terrence Ross and it's like the team had two top-10 selections this year. That's a good way to fast track a rebuild.
3. On Point - Kyle Lowry was a great acquisition for the Raptors. He adds some desperately needed toughness and athleticism to the point guard spot. He will help shut down opponents ont he defensive end and will also be able to add some attack to the offence. It also turns incumbent starter Jose Calderon from a serviceable starter into one of the best backup points out there.
THE BAD
1. Who's The Man? - The Raptors have a lot of very good pieces but they lack a true number one stud. The NBA is a star driven league and unfortunately the Raptors don't have one. Andrea Bargnani? Sorry if he was going to be a star he would be by now. Demar DeRozan? A lot of potential but probably better suited to a complementary role. Ross or Valanciunas? Maybe one day, but neither is ready to assume that mantle yet and both need to do some developing.
2. Divisional Strength - The Raptors definitely got better this year yet could find themselves actually losing ground within the Atlantic. The Celtics are still the team to beat. The Knicks didn't have a good off-season but still have Amare and Melo. The 76ers landed arguably the second best center in the league. Even Brooklyn should be better with Joe Johnson and a healthy Brook Lopez to complement Deron Williams.
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| After spending last season playing at home in Lithuania, the Raptors 5th overall pick from 2011, Jonas Valciunas, is set to join the club. Will he live up to expectiations? |
3. Offensive Output - The team improved defensively but they also took a step back offensively last year. Lowry helps but you still have to convince Andrea Bargnani that crashing the glass and establishing a post presence is a part of his job. The team particularly struggled in shooting outside the paint, ranking 22nd in the league. Ross should help with the shooting but he's still only a rookie and won't be able to turn things around on his own.
X Factor:
This team is better than it was a year ago. There will still be some growing pains with such a young team but the positives are beginning to outweigh the negatives. This team can finally begin looking towards the playoffs again though after several years of futility. They may not make it, but they should at the very least be in the hunt for one of the final spots in the East.
What to Expect
This team is better than it was a year ago. There will still be some growing pains with such a young team but the positives are beginning to outweigh the negatives. This team can finally begin looking towards the playoffs again though after several years of futility. They may not make it, but they should at the very least be in the hunt for one of the final spots in the East.
The Raptors worked hard to get Steve Nash this summer and played their hand about as well as it could have been done. They made the biggest offer, played up the hometown hero angle and severely hurt the Knicks' chances at landing him.
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Get ready for the season with the latest from TSN.ca/fantasy.
Power Rankings: Toronto opens the season in 18th
Player Rankings: Jose Calderon is the top rated Raptor at No. 49
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Unfortunately for Raptors fans, even Wayne Gretzky wasn't enough to lure Captain Canada home. Nash wound up choosing family and winning over fame and country, signing with the Lakers in order to be closer to his kids, play with Kobe and maybe get a ring.
Despite losing out on Nash, Raptors fans still have reason to be pleased about the off-season. Kyle Lowry for a future draft pick is a bargain as he immediately gives the Raptors a better backcourt. While he was a 2011 pick, actually adding Jonas Valanciunas this year is also good news. He will still need time to develop but almost certainly would have been the number two pick behind Anthony Davis if he were drafted this year.
Terrence Ross gives them a good shooter on the wing while Acy will add toughness and grit. Adding those three to the core of Andrea Bargnani, DeMar DeRozan and suddenly the Raptors look more competitive rather than doormats. If only the Raptors offer for Landry Fields had been matched by the Knicks the Raps would get an A. But they didn't count on Nash signing in LA and now they're stuck overpaying Fields no matter what they say about it.
Grade: B
