(a sorta) League Preview: Toronto Raptors

The sorriest and the lottery likelies are just that. The Wizards, Clippers and Thunder may actually be players in the 2009-10 post season. At the same time, these teams are all question marks because recent poor play. The beat goes on with 2nd best team in the East's Atlantic Division.

Toronto Raptors

PG Jose Calderon Jarret Jack

SG Marco Belinelli DeMar DeRozan Quincy Douby

SF Hedo Turkoglu Antoine Wright

PF Chris Bosh Reggie Evans

C Andrea Bargnani Rasho Nesterovic Amir Johnson

Toronto really puzzles me. In large part because of the presence of Chris Bosh, I have assumed that Toronto would have been a constant playoff participant, if not a burgeoning contender. But their weak 41-41 campaign in 2008 and miserable 33 wins in 2009 show the Raptors as sorta suckers. Granted, GM Bryan Colangelo has a concept that he is working towards, and building anything takes time. With the acquisitions of Turkoglu, Jarret Jack, Marco Belineli, DeMar DeRozan and Amir Johnson, he may finally have the personnel to play a Euro-Suns style. But unless Colangelo’s plan also includes losing Bosh as a free agent next summer, Toronto needs to get back into the playoff mix this season.

Bosh is a bit of enigma himself. Perhaps it is his laid back persona, or perhaps it his preference of the perimeter over the block on offense, but for one of the game’s best young bigs, he does not seem to be that BIG. He is certainly more forward than center, and arguably more Tom Chambers than Chris Webber. He is a very active defender, a strong rebounder, and big time scorer. Is he a franchise guy? Or just a really damn good player? The verdict will become a lot clearer if he can’t lift this team above mediocrity.

With Turkoglu and the other new guys, T-Dot gained significantly in the athleticism and scoring departments. For a team with dreams of a playing at a fast pace and putting up big scores, they now have pretty good pieces. Jose Calderon is coming off a down year, and is apparently very focused. An effective Jose will get things moving right. Turkoglu’s creativity and willingness to initiate for others is going to fit in very nicely. Jack is very solid third guard, with Belinelli and DeRozan serving as the primary two guards. All three can score. Amir Johnson will help the Raps on D. Rasho is fine back up center when you are forced to play big. Johnson could be the big that will get the most minutes after Bosh and Bargnani.

Bargnani, while not an Olowokandi-level disappointment, has not really had a full season of consistent good play in his three years in the League. He will be 24 years old as he enters the season. He is being asked to play out of position as center because he is 7’0 and Mr. Bosh has a lock on the power forward spot. For Toronto to make any serious foray into the East’s upper crust, Bargnani has to come into his own now. Having his country mate Belinelli may help him. Bottom line, though, is Bargnani must deliver.

You may have noticed that aside from referencing Bosh and sub Amir Johnson, I have not mentioned anything about defense.

Like the Thunder, Clippers and the Wiz, I am not sure what to expect of this team. They will probably be fun to watch, unless for some reason they stink. Best case scenario: A playoff run and tough second round loss to one of the East’s top three. Of course, for that scenario, they would need to get the 4 or 5 seed. How likely is that? Probably Toronto is the 7 or 8 seed.