10 Bold Toronto Raptors Predictions
Source: By DUANE WATSON, AOL Sports
Posted: 10/08/09 12:58PM
Filed Under: Columnists
Now, with a revamped roster that includes “the Turkish Michael Jordan” Hedo Turkoglu, expectations are naturally high for these Raptors … or are they? Canadians, by disposition, are somewhat complacent and most seem content with merely a post-season appearance. However, getting excited for a first-round playoff exit is like being happy that your 15-year-old child can finally finish reading The Cat in the Hat all by himself. Why set the bar so low when your team looks this good on paper?
With that said, here in no particular order are the top 10 boldest predictions for the Raptors’ 2009/2010 season.
Chris Bosh re-signs and stays in Toronto
With the team finally boasting a solid core, depth on the bench and some big bodies that can take the weight off of him, Bosh realizes that the only place he can get paid, compete and still be the face of the franchise is in Toronto. But has he hit his plateau? As a solid 20-point, 10-rebound player and a perennial All-Star, we definitely know what to expect from him, but the additional 15 pounds of muscle he’s brought to training camp could indicate CB4 is ready to take it up a notch.
Bryan Colangelo wins (another) Executive of the Year Award
The sharpest dressed general manager in the league gets his mojo back after rebuilding the club. Bringing in nine new players, including free agent Hedo Turkoglu and 2009 Draft lottery pick Demar Derozan, shows Colangelo still has good basketball judgment. And by executing the Devean George for Marco Belinelli fleecing, the league is reminded yet again that doing business with Colangelo is doing so at your own risk.
Jay Triano preaches defence and his team responds
After sitting on the Raptors bench as an assistant over the past eight years and helping out with USA Basketball for the past two, the Ontario native knows a thing or two about coaching at this level. He also knows something about defence, which in his first campaign as head coach will be the difference maker for his squad this season.
Latest NBA Images
LOS ANGELES - JUNE 29: The Los Angeles Clippers number one draft pick, Blake Griffin from the University of Oklahoma, puts on his jersey for a photo shoot on June 29, 2009 at the Clippers Training Center in Playa Vista, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Blake Griffin
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LOS ANGELES - JUNE 29: The Los Angeles Clippers number one draft pick, Blake Griffin (L) from the University of Oklahoma, poses for a photo with current Clippers player Eric Gordan during a press conference on June 29, 2009 at the Clippers Training Center in Playa Vista, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Blake Griffin;Eric Gordan
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LOS ANGELES - JUNE 29: The Los Angeles Clippers number one draft pick Blake Griffin (L) from the University of Oklahoma speaks to reporters as current Clippers player Eric Gordan looks on during a press conference on June 29, 2009 at the Clippers Training Center in Playa Vista, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Blake Griffin;Eric Gordan
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LOS ANGELES - JUNE 29: The Los Angeles Clippers number one draft pick, Blake Griffin (L) from the University of Oklahoma and Clippers' General Manager and Head Coach Mike Dunleavy, pose with Griffins' Clippers jersey during a press conference on June 29, 2009 at the Clippers Training Center in Playa Vista, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Blake Griffin;Mike Dunleavy
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LOS ANGELES - JUNE 29: The Los Angeles Clippers number one draft pick, Blake Griffin from the University of Oklahoma, addresses the media during a press conference as General Manager and Head Coach Mike Dunleavy (L) and President Andy Roeser (R) share the stage on June 29, 2009 at the Clippers Training Center in Playa Vista, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Blake Griffin;Mike Dunleavy;Andy Roeser
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LOS ANGELES - JUNE 29: The Los Angeles Clippers number one draft pick, Blake Griffin (R) from the University of Oklahoma, shares a moment with former Clippers player Michael Cage during a press conference at the Clippers Training Center June 29, 2009 in the Playa Vista neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Blake Griffin;Michael Cage
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LOS ANGELES - JUNE 29: The Los Angeles Clippers number one draft pick, Blake Griffin (C) from the University of Oklahoma, and his parents Tommy Griffin (L) and Gail Griffin, pose with Blake's Clippers jersey during a press conference at the Clippers Training Center June 29, 2009 in the Playa Vista neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Blake Griffin;Tommy Griffin;Gail Griffin
NBAE/Getty Images
LOS ANGELES - JUNE 29: The Los Angeles Clippers number one draft pick, Blake Griffin from the University of Oklahoma, poses with his Clippers jersey during a press conference at the Clippers Training Center June 29, 2009 in the Playa Vista neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Blake Griffin
NBAE/Getty Images
LOS ANGELES - JUNE 29: The Los Angeles Clippers number one draft pick, Blake Griffin from the University of Oklahoma, addresses the media during a press conference at the Clippers Training Center June 29, 2009 in the Playa Vista neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Blake Griffin
NBAE/Getty Images
LOS ANGELES - JUNE 29: The Los Angeles Clippers number one draft pick Blake Griffin (C), and his parents, Tommy Griffin (L) and Gail Griffin, arrive at a Clippers press conference to meet the press at the Clippers Training Center June 29, 2009 in the Playa Vista neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Blake Griffin;Tommy Griffin;Gail Griffin
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Andrea Bargnani “throws down”
It will either be the four games against Shaquille O’Neal and the Cavaliers this season (the first of which is the season opener), or going against Reggie Evans every day at practice, but Bargnani will finally snap and decide to stop backing down to bigger and tougher players. This is the season the mild-mannered Bargnani finally strikes back. Here’s to hoping the moment will be immortalized for posterity on YouTube.
Demar Derozan wins the Rookie of the Year Award
The term “athletically gifted” can be a gift or a curse. Ex-Raptors Vince Carter and Joey Graham both fit that title ... with varying results. Derozan will be more Carter than Graham and stands to get significant minutes at shooting guard. His main competition, Blake Griffin, will be playing against tougher opponents in the Western Conference, while Derozan will be making solid contributions to a winning team.
The Raptors advance past the first round of the playoffs
Not since 2001, when the Raptors were a shot away from moving to the Eastern Conference Finals, has this team seriously had the pieces to surge past the first round. A fourth place finish in the conference means they wouldn’t have to face Boston, Cleveland or Orlando in the first round, the teams that would ensure an early exit for the Raptors.
The Raptors win 50 games
Take a player that can create his own shot, win games and score in the clutch, couple it with legitimate depth off the bench and increased interior toughness, and add to that the existing core and you have the ingredients for 13 more W’s in the win column.
Marco Belinelli will step out as a key contributor
With players like Jarret Jack, Reggie Evans, Amir Johnson, Antoine Wright, and Rasho Nesterovic, the Raptors have a number of options that can step up. But the player that will be a spark off the bench and make a real impact is Marco Belinelli. He can play either guard position and shoot the lights out, and he’s not soft like typical NBA Euros, definitely more “al dente.”
The curse of the Ex-Raptor will live on
One of last year’s alumni will come back and be pivotal in a Raptor defeat. While Jason Kapono, Shawn Marion, Jermaine O’Neal, Joey Graham, Jamario Moon, Pops Mensah-Bonsu and Roko Ukic would all like to exact a little revenge, it will be Anthony Parker driving the stake through the hearts of Toronto fans. He’s done it before as a member of Maccabi Tel Aviv. But this time he has a stronger supporting cast in the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Air Canada Centre becomes the loudest arena in the league
With the addition of the city’s Turkish community turning out to support Turkoglu, the ACC turns into a raucous arena mirroring that of a European football stadium. With chants, songs, and a sea of red in the stands, loyal support for the Raptors goes through the roof like never before.
Well perhaps the last one may be a bit too bold.
Edited by Paul Choi
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