A Letter to the Raptors – Part 2 | PoundTheRockBlog
I don’t know what it’s like to cheer for a perfect collection of players led by the smoothest shooter of all time like Golden State. I don’t know what it’s like to root for a team that has one of the best all around players in history, receiving the benefit of both his skill and the referee’s whistle. What do their fans feel when they sweep the Pistons in the first round? And the Hawks in the second? Uncontrollable joy and wonder are probably far from it. What is it like sitting down at a bar to watch a conference final game, knowing in your mind, backed by the opinion of every legitimate pundit available, that your team will most likely win the game? Where’s the fun in that?
Instead, we were treated to a playoff run where you never knew how a given game would end. We could count on only one thing – that in the games that mattered most, our boys would claw, scratch, block and bully their way to a chance at a win. And yes, a Ross assist to an opponent’s fast break, or a Demar dribble off his foot (and into Dragic’s deserving face) would make us pull our hair out. But then we’d get a Biyombo finger wag or an intercontinental-hang-time dunk by Stormin’ Norm that would send us out of our seats (and our beers onto underserving friends).
And isn’t that what sports fandom is all about? To be up against the odds, not knowing what will happen, watching your boys give it their absolute best?
I still think a Taj to the Raptors trade for Delon Wright is the way to go. | Blog a Bull
Now you go the other way. You’re looking at a maximum return of a low first rounder or high second round pick. Statistically speaking, there’s not a high hit percentage on that location of pick. I’d prefer another wing with some upside versus another big creating the exact same logjam Taj currently poses. Delon Wright is trapped on that team as the third Point Guard. Taj would give the Raptors a grit player which would help their defense greatly with teams like the Cavaliers.
Delon is big enough and a good enough shooter to play backup Shooting Guard and a high enough basketball IQ, slick passer, and ability to run an offense to be a good back up Point Guard. He’s Snell’s replacement if he washes out. We’d have a heck of a wing rotation with a bunch of tall, slick passing, combo guards who could all play defense.
Finally, it depends on if you watched Delon Wright in college or not and liked him. I thought he was outstanding and showed a lot of upside. I think he’d actually be hard to pry away from Toronto who are very high on him. Wright is just stuck in a numbers game behind two high paid Point Guards.
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There’s bigger role in store for Raptors C Jonas Valanciunas. | Raptors Rapture
Statistical projection
15.5ppg, 10.4rpg, 1.5bpg, FG 55%, FT 77%, 1.8tpg (Top 30 fantasy asset)
Bold prediction
Jonas Valanciunas will make the Eastern all-star team. He might not get voted in by the fans as a starter but could very well be a reserve. Even NBA analyst Jeff Van Gundy said he should have made the all-star team last season.
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Toronto Raptors: 2016 Offseason Grades | Hoops Habit
Last season, Sully averaged 10.3 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 23.6 minutes per game for a well-balanced Boston Celtics team. He started in 73 of his 81 games, making it the healthiest of his four seasons in the league.
If Sullinger can stay healthy — and more importantly, stay in shape — he’ll be a quality and cost-effective backup. With Patrick Patterson set to hit free agency next summer, the Raptors will also have options as to who they’ll want to keep on the roster moving forward.
At only 24 years old, Sullinger still has yet to carve out a concrete role in this league, but perhaps playing for a superior Raptors team will help him find it. If not, his contract comes off the books next summer anyway.
Grade: C+
Ranking All 30 NBA Starting Small Forwards 2016-17 | Sportsblog
24 Terrence Ross (Toronto Raptors): Terrence Ross is a versatile player, especially for his size. However, he is incredibly inconsistent and is just not a go-to option in Toronto. If you just watch his highlights, you’d swear he was one of the league’s best players. But he lacks efficiency, which is the key component to being a star.
Can The Knicks New Super Team Beat The Raptors? | Pro Bball Report
Assume everyone shows up to camp healthy and stays healthy. The next big issue for the Knicks is simple chemistry. These guys haven’t played together. Even the Big 3 in Miami took half a season to figure out how to share the ball and be effective and no one should be comparing the risks the HEAT took putting together LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh with the risks Jackson is taking adding Rose and Noah to Carmelo Anthony and company.
Winning the Atlantic Division by overtaking two teams with solid winning records that are bringing back substantially the same rosters isn’t likely to happen, even if things go relatively well for the Knicks right from the start.
The Knicks focus has to be on the second half of the season and the playoffs. Stay healthy and figure out how to play together over the first 40 games without falling too far off the playoff pace and then push for the best playoff seeding that’s reasonably attainable.
Knicks fans have reason for optimism. This is more talent than they’ve seen on their team for a while. However, optimism shouldn’t be translated into pressure. Success for the Knicks isn’t becoming the next “super team” right away.
Success is building team chemistry, finding a way to keep their new found talent healthy and making the postseason. One step at a time. And somebody needs to convince Rose he doesn’t have to prove anything to anybody. He just needs to make shots, facilitate the offense and stay on the court.
Throughout the team’s time in Vegas, Powell talked about wanting to be a leader for his younger teammates. He wanted to improve his ability to find guys for open shots, read the floor, and be a steadying hand when needed.
“I was mainly focused on trying to help the team in the areas that were asked of me,” he said. “This year in summer league it was about showing I can be more of a vocal leader, telling guys what I see, where to go, different plays. Getting them ready with terminology and stuff like that. I think the year I had with the team, making it to the Eastern Conference Finals really helped do that. Seeing Kyle [Lowry], he was talkative no matter what was happening in the game, whether we were down or up, he was talking to the team, keeping everyone focused and engaged. That’s what I was trying to do in summer league.”
Leading by example comes naturally to Powell. Going from the rookie who is soaking up everything around him like a sponge, to the guy who is speaking up and giving advice is still an adjustment, though. His time in Vegas was a good opportunity to get some experience at no longer being the rookie on the team. It also served as a two-week bonding experience with the rest of the summer league squad, as well as providing the first chance to get to know Siakam and Poeltl away from the court.
“It was really fun,” Powell said. “Those guys are really motivated. I knew Jakob from college so I’m little familiar with him and how he plays. He’s a really good guy off the court. Really focused, really determined, really hungry, and really coachable. I’ve just spent one year in the league, but he’s already asking me about different things, where he can improve, what to look for, what to be prepared for. Even though I only saw Pascal a little bit I’m really excited. He’s really athletic, really versatile from what I saw. He runs, jumps, can shoot the ball a little bit and is a great guy off the court. I’m really excited to get to know him next season.”
Positionless hoops & the Raptors: our team can compete | Raptors Rapture
The Raptors’ starting centre is JV until someone takes his job away, or he’s traded. (Note: Jonas has attended Hakeem’s big man “academy”.) While I see JV trade speculation on occasion, it’s my firm opinion that such a move is not in the cards. Put another way: if another team wants Jonas, they will have to call Masai Ujiri with a boffo offer. Our GM isn’t calling anyone about JV.
Jonas is not the fastest man on his feet, but he’s not the slowest either. He can certainly get up and down the floor as well as anyone his size in the league, and he’s only 24 years old. Expecting improvement in speed and footwork is reasonable for the young man.
His reaction time on defense has improved, though the needle has merely moved from mediocre to acceptable. JV blocked 1.3 shots Per Game [PG] this past season, which is nothing special. What has improved is his personal foul rate, which decreased to 2.6 PG, the lowest of his 4-year career. He’s got to stay on the floor, and keeping the fouls down is essential.
“Big men mature later.” attributed to Bud Grant, Minnesota Vikings coach
Where things will get interesting is at the Power Forward spot, assuming (as I do) the Raptors roll out Jared Sullinger as the Game One starter. Will he have the mobility to assume the wide-ranging defensive responsibilities Dwane Casey demands? If not, the Raptors may struggle against ball-movement offenses like those of Atlanta and Boston.
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