2007-08 NBA Season Team Preview – Toronto Raptors

2007-08 NBA Season Team Preview – Toronto Raptors
The big problem was the wings not being able to slash to the cup. I’m certain this team realizes that defenses will collapse on Chris Bosh, forcing the boys on the perimeter to make something happen. There aren’t too many players on the roster that are capable of this. Anthony Parker must get better, Delfino must be aggressive, and the point guard duo of T.J. Ford and Jose Calderon must penetrate.

NBA Blog

NBA Blog
* The game was in Rome, so Toronto started Italian Andrea Bargnani at power forward. Fair enough. However, I appreciate Jorge Garbajosa’s blue-collar game. I’m not sure if the Raptors are better with Bargnani or Garbajosa at the four-spot.

* Jason Kapono, Toronto’s big free agent signing, started at small-forward. His range will spread the floor and keep defenses from doubling Chris Bosh in the post.

* T.J. Ford or Jose Calderon? This question comes up each time I watch the Raptors. And I debated it again this afternoon. I like Ford’s pace. But I really like Calderon’s feel for the game. Eventually, the club will have to make a decision on who starts long-term at the one-spot.

Raptors, Celtics Entertain Rome in Preseason Opener

RAPTORS: Raptors, Celtics Entertain Rome in Preseason Opener
Bargnani, last year’s top overall draft pick by Toronto, played his first game in his hometown in an NBA jersey and scored 13 points in less than 15 minutes.

“Andrea was pretty good. I probably could have done a better job at getting him back in, but I wanted to keep him fresh for tomorrow,” Raptors coach Sam Mitchell said. “I know where Andrea’s at.”

T.J. Ford, who started at point guard for Toronto, led the Raptors with 15 points. Anthony Parker, Chris Bosh, Jason Kapono, and Bargnani rounded out the Raptors starting lineup.

The sold-out crowd of 11,118 at the Palalottomatica gave Bargnani a standing ovation when he came out for warmups and grew even louder when he scored six of the Raptors’ first eight points, including a three-pointer on his first attempt from the field.

Raptors may need $5 million to keep Calderon

Raptors may need $5 million to keep Calderon – Rumors – NBA – Yahoo! Sports
A free agent after the season, Toronto may have to pay starters money for the back-up to T.J. Ford. Colangelo is optimistic that he can keep Calderon in Raptor red next year despite the fact that the cost may be prohibitive. The Raptors will pay Ford $8 million next season and if Calderon has another good year in Toronto, he could be looking for close to $5 million per year.

Raptors Notebook

Raptors Notebook
And last night, almost 2,000 of them came to the Palaverde arena to watch the show, and they stood several times before the tip-off to applaud for Andrea Bargnani, Jorge Garbajosa and Raptors assistant general manager — and former Benetton chief — Maurizio Gherardini. Coach Sam Mitchell, tipping the hand he is expected to play at the start of the regular season, had Chris Bosh, Bargnani, T.J. Ford, Jason Kapono and Anthony Parker start for the “home” team.

From Deep

globeandmail.com: From Deep
1. Andrea Bargnani is definitely trying to be more physical. He had four dunks; he laid out Graham on a blind screen and went hard enough to the glass to get a couple of offensive fouls.

2. There is some tightness at the bottom of the rotation: Juan Dixon and Luke Jackson are playing for jobs and they look it.

3. Bosh looks like he’s not game sharp, which backed up his talk that his emphasis was on resting and re-habbing his foot rather than getting a lot of runs in this summer.

4. I barely noticed Ford, which is good. Less is usually more with him.

5. Kapono is not merely a standstill shooter. His understanding of spacing and his overall floor game is pretty impressive. With him and Parker on the floor together, the ball just flies around.

6. Garbajosa didn’t look like he was favouring his leg necessarily, but he missed a lot, turned the ball over some and generally looked rusty.

7. My guess is Kris Humphries worked hard on his shooting this summer and was eager to prove it every chance he got. There is more work to be done.

Calderon a hot commodity for Raps

TorontoSun.com – Basketball – Calderon a hot commodity for Raps
Calderon, who averaged 8.7 points and 5.0 assists last season, insists that he is content in Toronto. But many basketball insiders believe that a player of Calderon’s calibre would be crazy to continue as a backup, given the fact that he has the talent, and will soon have the opportunity, to be a starter.

Forget Venice, Ford says, I’m just here to work hard

TheStar.com | Sports | Forget Venice, Ford says, I’m just here to work hard
But Mitchell has repeatedly insisted that Ford will be the No.1: “Don’t even go down that road,” he said the other day.

So why no debate? Ford is simply the superior player. But surely the coach understands that the status quo also avoids a firestorm. Calderon plays the happy backup even if he craves more. But Ford would not take well to a demotion.

“I’ve been a starter my whole life. Even if someone told me I wasn’t a starter, I guarantee you, I’ll be the starter,” Ford said yesterday. “It’s no disrespect to Jose or anybody. It’s just the competitive nature I have.”

He’s certainly aware of Calderon’s considerable fan club.

“Everybody doesn’t like T.J. Ford’s game. I’ve been hearing it all my life. He’s too small. He plays too fast. He’s out of control. I’ve heard it all …”

Mitchell’s Special moment

TorontoSun.com – Basketball – Mitchell’s Special moment
The Raptors hosted a group of Special Olympic athletes from the Treviso area as part of the NBA Cares program following the team’s afternoon practice.

On hand were Chris Bosh, T.J. Ford, Andrea Bargnani and Anthony Parker, as well as coaches Sam Mitchell and Jay Triano.

For Mitchell, interacting with Special Olympians is close to his heart as he majored in special education at Mercer University.

“The thing is, these kids never complain,” he said. “And that makes you appreciate all the little things.”

Fast-food Raptors try to enjoy La Dolce Vita

TheStar.com | Sports | Fast-food Raptors try to enjoy La Dolce Vita
On the first night of their first European training camp, the Raptors decamped from their luxurious rural hotel, which is nestled among vineyards in the rolling countryside a half-hour north of Venice, and commandeered a local restaurant for a team meal.

There were appetizers of bruschetta and prosciutto, a first course of assorted pastas and risottos, and a main of beef and fresh fish and chicken. The languid pace, the slow procession of plates – it was difficult for some to endure.

Ford sees stars on horizon

TorontoSun.com – Basketball – Ford sees stars on horizon
Bosh, at 23, is a two-time all-star while Ford, 24, has yet to attain that status. But in a one-on-one interview yesterday, Ford vowed to change that, predicting that this season he will become an all-star, though that is a very tall order given the fact that there are a couple of point guards in the Eastern Conference named Jason Kidd and Dwyane Wade.

Still, Ford has set that as his main individual goal.

“That was my mindset going into the summer,” said the 6-foot, 165-pound guard, who believes that he has the game to be an NBA all-star.

CBSSports.com take on the Raptors

Toronto Raptors, Andrea Bargnani, Anthony Parker, Chris Bosh, National Basketball Association – CBSSports.com
Toronto is the favorite,” Kidd said of last season’s Atlantic winner. “Everybody forgets about them. If they can stay healthy, they’ll be right there.”

I must confess, I’ve forgotten about the Raptors once already. Annoyed T.O. fans angrily wrote in to point out that during an Eastern Conference finals column writing off the Pistons, I’d omitted their 47-win team as one of the squads on the rise.

My apologies, Canada.

You’re absolutely right about being slighted, picked on and cast aside. In this case, the chip on your shoulder is merited. In fact, those who choose to feed the inferiority complex fix might opt to believe the savvy Kidd was just giving Toronto its just due simply to avoid fanning the likely rivalry with the Celtics.

Whatever the reason for his answer, expect it to be among the minority. The Raptors are still the youngest team among the Eastern Conference’s true contenders, taking that baton from the not-so-baby Bulls.

TSN looks at the season ahead.

TSN : NBA-RAPTORS – Canada’s Sports Leader
no matter what, the key to this season is going to remain Bargnani and his ability to adjust to life against NBA starters. Bosh thrived in that position when he was thrust there at Bargnani’s age and eventually reversed the fate of the team, now it’s up to Bargnani to push that momentum even further forward for Canada’s lone franchise.

Was trading TJ Ford a mistake?

The Bratwurst – Milwaukee Bucks Blog » Blog Archive » Was trading TJ Ford a mistake?
The Toronto Raptors were the feel-good story of the Eastern Conference last season, and a large part of the credit for this improvement was given to the trade of Charlie Villanueva for TJ Ford. There is no doubt that Ford had a much better season statistically with Toronto than he had with Milwaukee in 2005-06. But was he a much better player or was he just in a better situation? Did he really improve? Does his game still have much more upside? Are the Bucks worse off with Mo Williams than they would have been with Ford?