| Lottery Summit: Toronto Raptors Authored by Andrew Perna & The RGM Raptors Forum - June 15, 2008 - 4:59 pm
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The Toronto Raptors:
2007-08 Record: 41-41
Difference From 2006-07: Six Fewer Wins
Playoff Result: Lost In Five To Orlando (First Round)
Restricted Free Agents: Jose Calderon, Carlos Delfino
Unrestricted Free Agents: Primoz Brezec, Rasho Nesterovic (P)
The Verdicts
1. What could the team have done differently to advance in the playoffs?
BigBurd: Changing the rotation to start the playoffs was inexcusable. It was our coaching staff’s admission that they still hadn't found a rotation they believed could compete against quality teams.
BoBBo!: Utilize a more athletic frontcourt to counterbalance Dwight Howard's power game inside. Going small was our only answer throughout the series.
HAK: A new head coach (or assistant coach with a specialty on defense), more help inside for Chris Bosh and an all-star caliber wing player. Realistically, we really had no shot to beat Orlando. Our interior defense was too weak and our backcourt defense was horrible as well. Unless we shot over 55% every game, we had no chance to make to the second round.
DIEHARD_005: This team needed the mental and physical toughness to go anywhere, which did not exist. The killer instinct to finish games was absent all season, but really showed in games two, four and five.
KingstonRaptors: If we started Jamario Moon at small forward and had better perimeter defense.
rocket2981: We should have abandoned the ridiculous strategy of double-teaming anybody inside the paint. We left all Orlando’s three-point shooters wide-open all-series long.
CrookedJ: The perimeter defense was so consistently bad, but that is hard to blame on the players alone. I think the coaching staff has allowed them to get used to yelling ‘help’.
youngLion: They could have given Kris Humphries some of Andrea Bargnani's minutes to offer Howard a different look, some more physicality down low and especially in contending for some rebounds. Also, Sam Mitchell should have let Moon play in Game One to help on Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis.
agentzerotoTO: I don't know. No one knows. Something happened to the team in March/April and they weren't the same for the rest of the season. Perhaps a solid rotation and fewer injuries would have helped...
ATLTimekeeper: I wonder how many playoff teams changed their starting line-up in a Game One? Especially after quietly boasting that they liked how they matched up against the Magic.
rise of raptors: You don't change your starting lineup for most of the season in Game One of the playoffs. You don't insert your supposed ‘future center’ as the starting small forward. You just don't.
Shaazzam: Not overplay guys to one side on the perimeter, allowing them lanes to drive and kick. Too often guys were getting open shots in the corner off of initial penetration. One pass and an uncontested jumper doesn't cut it for me defensively.
cdel00: Nothing. The Magic simply outclassed the Raps.
AndreaBustani: Bench Bargnani.
Garmfay: Gone with the same lineup we had during the regular season, not totally change everything for the playoffs. Also, we shouldn't have double teamed constantly, which led to open three-pointers.
Meursault: Not much. I think the Raptors would have lost anyway, but I would have started Rasho Nesterovic.
Hendrix: If we had more talent. The guys we have just don't have the game for the playoffs. Not enough penetration, defense, points in the paint and rebounding. No matter how much you want them to do those things they just aren’t capable of it.
James Ballswin (Realizar): Lack of rebounding (on both ends) was the Achilles heel for the Raps all season. Howard utterly exposed the Raps in the playoffs with three twenty-plus rebound games.
Teabag: If we won four games instead of one.
dennistokyo: Start Moon at small forward and Bargnani at center in Game One, but the Raptors probably still lose.
rdtx2005: Better overall perimeter defense and defense in general would have probably allowed the Raptors to get into the second round.
wawaweewa: Rebounding and defense.
2. Where were the team’s biggest strengths?
BigBurd: Forty-eight minutes of great point guard play helped us win this season and Chris Bosh lets us compete every day.
BoBBo!: Bosh and Jose Calderon were the pillars of the Raptors during 2007-2008 campaign.
HAK: Offense (more specifically, mid-range and long range) and ball movement.
DIEHARD_005: Three-point shooting.
KingstonRaptors: When playing efficiently, the point guard duo.
rocket2981: Chris Bosh is the biggest strength this team has. He was so frustrated by the poor play/coaching of the team as a whole that he tried to do too much at the end of the year, resulting in the second half/playoffs fiasco.
CrookedJ: Three-point shooting. It was fantastic all year, and won us several games that we had no business winning.
youngLion: Quite simply, point guard play and ball movement. When the point guards were playing well off of each other, the team covers the floor with shooters which makes the Raptors a pretty efficient inside-outside team with Bosh.
agentzerotoTO: Point guard play, Three-point shooting and teamwork.
ATLTimekeeper: Shooting and controlled play.
rise of raptors: Our biggest strength is the three-point shot, which is a double-edged sword - live by the jumper, die by the jumper. And of course, a certain man named Bosh, who is the heart and soul of this franchise.
Shaazzam: The pick and roll.
cdel00: Bosh is a dominant and efficient player.
AndreaBustani: Bosh and our point guards.
Garmfay: ‘Forderon’ executing the ‘pick and pop’ with Bosh/Nesterovic
Meursault: T.J. Ford, Calderon and Bosh.
Hendrix: Teams focusing on Bosh. He demanded a lot of attention from the other team’s defense, which allowed others like Jason Kapono to get their game off. Game Three our point guards were a big strength as well.
James Ballswin (Realizar): The point guards.
Teabag: Depth, but too inconsistent to really be more than what we were.
dennistokyo: Jose and Bosh.
rdtx2005: Pick and roll.
wawaweewa: Shooting and point guard play. CB4 came up big as usual.
3. Who had a surprisingly effective season?
BigBurd: Raptor fans knew Nesterovic was better then most NBA commentators let on, but his strong play surprised all of us.
BoBBo!: Moon was undoubtedly the most surprisingly effective player. He went from a summer camp invitee to surviving the fifteen-man roster cut to starting seventy-five games and being a participant in the All-Star festivities. He was a nice surprise.
HAK: Calderon. If Ford was never injured, no one would have expected him to jump out of the bench and showcase his game on the next level. If it is the playoffs we are talking about, Kapono. He finally decided to start taking shots when he wasn't wide open. During the regular season, he hesitated too much. Maybe he takes high percentage shots, but his presence on the court did not help our offense.
DIEHARD_005: Rasho was awesome down the stretch. Calderon was also huge for most of the season. Let's not forget the impact Moon made as well. I shudder when I think about who our starting three would have been if Moon didn't step up.
KingstonRaptors: Moon (his rebounding and defense).
rocket2981: Nobody in their wildest dreams could have imagined that Moon would have started seventy-five games, nobody.
CrookedJ: Calderon's jump from the 'best backup' point guard in the league to being fifth in assists, while shooting the lights out.
youngLion: Rasho has always been a capable center, but it was surprising to see how much the team started to rely on him offensively towards the end of the year. My suspicion is that this was done to send a message to Bargnani as much as anything else.
agentzerotoTO: Rasho and Moon.
ATLTimekeeper: Moon came out of nowhere and played like he was making up for lost time. He also didn't lose his cool in the playoffs.
rise of raptors: Calderon, our "backup" point guard, put up historical statistics and helped put the Raptors on the map. He had the city, fans, ESPN and even Agent Zero talking about him.
Shaazzam: I think the whole team was inconsistent throughout the season. Jose had the longest stretch of high caliber play of anyone if I had to choose.
cdel00: Moon, who went from bush league to effective NBA starter.
AndreaBustani: Moon.
Garmfay: Moon. Came out of nowhere and became the starter.
Meursault: Rasho and Humphries (for certain stretches).
Hendrix: Moon. Kapono had a surprisingly ineffective season, but a surprisingly effective postseason. I’d like to keep him as he might be useful when we acquire players that allow him to be more open.
James Ballswin (Realizar): Calderon. He forced Bryan Colangelo to move either Ford or himself this summer.
Teabag: Humphries to start the year, Rasho to finish and then no one really. I guess you could go with Jose if you didn't already think he was really that good.
dennistokyo: Jose and Moon.
rdtx2005: Moon. He came from nowhere to become the starting small forward.
wawaweewa: Moon. We really didn’t expect anything from him, but he brought highlights, defense and rebounding to the squad.
4. Who had a surprisingly ineffective season?
BigBurd: No one believed Bargnani would forget how to score.
BoBBo!: Bargnani really regressed in this year. It's almost inconceivable that he was battling Brandon Roy for R.O.T.Y. just a year ago. His offensive strengths in year one, namely three-point shooting and driving to the rim, were unreliable throughout the season.
HAK: Joey Graham (okay, I am joking), Bargnani. He had a few decent games, but overall, he played awful. He brought no intensity on the court, and he didn’t show any effort aside from shooting.
DIEHARD_005: Bargnani, without a doubt. Kapono also was not used effectively during the season. Delfino was inconsistent.
KingstonRaptors: In the regular season, Kapono. Over the entire season, Bargnani.
rocket2981: I’ve got to say Bargnani. I had great expectations for him and he profoundly disappointed me. His shooting was so different than last year. I don't know what to expect next year, so we have no other choice but to get a ‘Plan B’ at center.
CrookedJ: Bargnani. He started missing shots and his confidence plummeted. When a shooting specialist is not making his shots, he is of little value.
youngLion: Bargnani had a terrible sophomore slump. It appears that he's having trouble adapting to the duties required of an NBA center.
agentzerotoTO: Bargnani.
ATLTimekeeper: Kapono. He went long stretches of games without attempting a three-pointer, which was absolutely inexplicable.
rise of raptors: Bargnani. Il Mago made all his skills disappear. Hopefully, an offseason with Lucas will bring the force back.
Shaazzam: A.B. It was a transition year for him and he didn't rise to the challenge. He needs to bust his butt this offseason.
cdel00: Tie Bargnani/Kapono. Bargnani’s shooting was horrible and Kapono became a $6 million bench warmer.
AndreaBustani: Kapono.
Garmfay: Bargnani. He had two great games in the beginning, but then it just went downhill from there. Hopefully, he can recover, get healthy and really try to improve during the summer.
Meursault: Bargnani and Kapono (though not entirely his fault).
Hendrix: The only answer to this question is Bargnani. He was awful. No other way to say it.
James Ballswin (Realizar): Bargnani (aka: Buttercup). He regressed during his sophomore season.
Teabag: Anyone on any given night. The inconsistent play of every player was painful at times.
dennistokyo: Bargnani and Kapono (during the regular season).
rdtx2005: Bargnani. No questions asked.
wawaweewa: Bargnani took a massive step back in his development. Most of us were expecting him to at least break the fifteen-point plateau and become a nice second option alongside Bosh, but he did not deliver.
5. How confident are you in the front office heading into the offseason?
BigBurd: Fairly confident because our front office knows we need changes. Last year we overachieved because Anthony Parker played great and other teams couldn't handle forty-eight minutes of ‘Forderon’; that wasn't enough this year.
BoBBo!: Quite confident. Colangelo has made every indication that he will not tolerate mediocrity and recognizes that major changes are needed. I expect several key additions to the roster this summer with either Calderon or Ford gone and any or all of Garbajosa/Rasho/Parker moved as expiring contracts.
HAK: Not very confident. The Raptors do not have a lot of assets to deal this offseason, and Ford's injury history will only make other teams walk away from making trades with us. We only have the MLE to spend, and it is not likely that we'll land an All-Star wing player to improve our backcourt and at the same time, to get a big man to help behind Bosh and Bargnani.
DIEHARD_005: In B.C. I trust. This is a huge offseason for him and for this franchise. Standing pat will almost ensure that we will struggle to even make the playoffs next year.
KingstonRaptors: I'm pretty confident B.C. knows what needs to be done to improve the team.
rocket2981: Very confident. I don't think we can get an All-Star, but I'm firmly convinced that B.C. will make two or three positive changes that will bring us back to the level of last season. One of the point guards will be gone, we'll sign one free agent and a first rounder will be added to our roster.
CrookedJ: Colangelo is a proven GM, so I'm pretty confident that he will make aggressive moves to improve the team. In Phoenix he showed a willingness to trade the likes of Jason Kidd and Stephon Marbury to improve the team.
youngLion: Colangelo has been hinting that a point guard is going to be moved, and I believe that it's his intention to bring in a star at another position to compliment Bosh and the remaining point. I'm confident that the team will improve.
agentzerotoTO: On a scale of 1-10, I'd say about an 8.5 or 9.
ATLTimekeeper: Extremely confident. I think they know how to find talent at great value. However, their two biggest moves were risks that haven't panned out (Bargnani and Ford).
rise of raptors: Fairly confident. Colangelo has hinted at trading T.J. Ford, bringing in new faces and acquiring that elusive 20-point scorer. He gave fans a lot of hope with those words, but can he deliver?
Shaazzam: Fairly. I believe there is a plan and that the groundwork was laid during the trade deadline for summer moves.
cdel00: Very, Colangelo has very attractive pieces to work with.
AndreaBustani: Not confident at all. Colangelo hasn't done squat and he's leading the Raptors into the land of famine and drought.
Garmfay: I'm confident. Colangelo said changes will be coming and we have the assets to make a big splash this offseason.
Meursault: Very confident that the Raptors will improve over the long-term. I’m less confident that such improvement will be substantial after next season, but probably incrementally over the course of the next three years.
Hendrix: I'm split on this. I know they know we need improvements, and I’m fairly confident that they will make moves. I'm just a little scared when I keep hearing all the Euro stuff like Belinelli, Bargnani and them bringing in Delfino, Brezec, etc. It's not that I have anything against European ball players. I just wonder if they are going out of their way though to bring in European guys instead of the best player at times. American players have not always been fond of playing in Toronto, but I wonder if this will make it worse. I just want to see the best players regardless of where they are from, not Americans because they are from the U.S. or Europeans because they are from Europe.
James Ballswin (Realizar): Very confident. We have a valuable trading asset in either Ford or Calderon. And we have a number of expiring contracts (Rasho, AP, Garbo, Graham).
dennistokyo: I’m sort of confident.
rdtx2005: Very confident. You can't build an empire overnight. This is a process and we will watch it continue.
wawaweewa: B.C. has always managed to come through and will be able to add talent to this squad. We have some interesting pieces that we could trade (one of our points, Rasho's expiring deal and some average wing players on reasonable contracts).
6. What are the team’s biggest needs in the draft?
BigBurd: Despite popular issues with the small forward and center spots, our biggest need is a difference maker at shooting guard. Parker will give us one year to develop such a prospect.
BoBBo!: An athletic swingman that is able to create his own shot and defend the perimeter. A secondary need would be a rugged interior defender and post scorer.
HAK: I am not very into "needs", but more on talent. With the seventeenth pick, we have to draft the best talent available. Drafting based on our needs will result in another bad pick.
DIEHARD_005: A slasher at the three or a tough big man that does the dirty work and rebounds at the five!
KingstonRaptors: Rebounding and a slasher.
rocket2981: It depends on what we'll get in a potential trade involving one of our point guards. If we get a big, I'll say we need to draft a young swingman. If we get a swingman, I'll say draft a big.
CrookedJ: Players that have a nose for the ball and play good defense. I don't think we should draft on positional need, but to improve the tenacity of the team.
youngLion: This depends highly on what B.C. has in store for the trade market, but the team needs a swingman who can slash and create his own shot.
agentzerotoTO: A second scorer or a big man.
ATLTimekeeper: They need a combo guard that can defend both positions.
rise of raptors: First, a swingman who can create his own shot, get to the rim, help out rebounding and provide some much needed perimeter defense. Second, a big man who will get in the paint and help protect Bosh.
Shaazzam: Size, athleticism and defense on the wing and in the paint.
cdel00: Toughness in the paint.
AndreaBustani: A center who can rebound or an off guard/small forward that can create his own shot and defend.
Garmfay: A perimeter/low post defender, rebounder and an athletic swingman.
Meursault: Acquire more talent. The talent pool is spread too horizontally on this squad. There are a lot of good rotation players on the Raptors, but no championship-caliber starters other than Bosh and the point guards. Moon, Rasho/Bargnani and Parker would not be three of your starting five on any serious contending team.
Hendrix: Rebounding, defense, slashing, athleticism and toughness.
James Ballswin (Realizar): An athletic wing player that can create his own shot and consistently penetrate into the lane, and defensive rebounding. Hopefully, Humphries and Bargnani can improve their games to provide this need next season.
Teabag: Can you draft a big set of nuts?
dennistokyo: Toughness and defense, both on the perimeter and inside.
rdtx2005: A defensive big man or a five-tool wing player.
wawaweewa: The best player available that isn’t a one or four. I think we have equal needs in a defensive big and a scoring wing.
7. Who would you like your team to select?
BigBurd: Eric Gordon. We need someone willing to drive and draw fouls.
BoBBo!: Chris Douglas-Roberts.
HAK: Nicolas Batum or JaVale McGee. Both are young and have shown flashes in their games. If we can’t get a big man/wing player through a trade, we might as well draft one and develop them.
DIEHARD_005: McGee, Gordon or Roy Hibbert.
KingstonRaptors: Douglas-Roberts.
rocket2981: I like Kosta Koufos or Robin Lopez as a big and Danilo Gallinari or Chase Budinger as a swingman.
CrookedJ: I honestly think that the pick will be traded. If we use it maybe Brandon Rush, Lopez or McGee.
youngLion: Although he's a project, I think Batum could be a good fit. O.J. Mayo's ability to create off the dribble would be a great compliment to this team, but of course we would have to trade up to get him.
agentzerotoTO: At seventeen Batum, CDR or Hibbert. If we get a higher pick Gallinari or DeAndre Jordan. If we get lower pick then Tyler Smith or Lopez.
ATLTimekeeper: They would have to trade up, but Russell Westbrook or O.J. Mayo.
rise of raptors: You should always draft the best player available. At #17, Batum seems to be the one with the greatest potential.
Shaazzam: Someone who can guard their position. That's number one for me, defense.
cdel00: Pekovic.
AndreaBustani: Donte Green, Joey Dorsey or Joe Alexander.
Garmfay: I say go with the best available player. Take someone who will have high upside because at seventeen you won't be getting any instant impact players with high potential. I would like the Raptors to take Batum.
Meursault: Batum or Green.
Hendrix: I'd be happy with Lopez, Batum or maybe even CDR. I feel we might be better served to get a guy you know you'll get defense and rebounding out of like Lopez, but he doesn’t have the upside of a lot of the guys around him. In the second round (I think we could buy one cheap) I like Joey Dorsey, Bill Walker and Nathan Jawai.
James Ballswin (Realizar): The best player available.
Teabag: Walker.
dennistokyo: ‘BAP’, but I wouldn't mind someone like Lopez. I want Raptors to buy an early second rounder and draft Kyle Weaver, if that's possible.
rdtx2005: Batum would probably be the best choice, but for some reason Gallinari seems like a Raptor. I don’t know why.
wawaweewa: Budinger if he is available. If not, Douglas-Roberts or Lopez.
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Andrew Perna is a Senior Writer for RealGM. If you’re a fan of one of the many teams that we have yet to feature, surf over to our forums and weigh in on what is happening within the organization. If you’d like to contact Andrew, shoot him an e-mail at Andrew.Perna@RealGM.com |
