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COACH: Sam Mitchell | 2004-05: 33-49
Toronto Raptors |
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Bosh is a potential superstar in the making.
Scott Cunningham/NBAE/Getty Images
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Last December's Vince Carter trade officially put the Raptors in rebuilding mode. Chris Bosh is the franchise player now and his numbers in just his second season prove it. Bosh averaged 16.8 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game last season, recording 32 double-doubles, including nine straight shortly after the Carter trade. He has a nice mix of low post skills and a solid mid-range jumper. A leader by example, Bosh will be counted on to help the Raptor youth develop and keep the veterans with the program. He should also see more of the ball this season and could certainly be a 20 and 10 guy in the near future.
Going back to the drawing board, the Raps let Milt Palacio and Donyell Marshall go elsewhere, traded Rafer Alston for Mike James and brought in a lot of young blood through the draft and free agency. With the No. 7 pick in the draft, they took Charlie Villanueva, a talented and athletic big man out of UConn who will allow them to go with a Phoenix Suns-like lineup at times. At pick No. 16 (which they acquired in the Carter deal), they took Joey Graham, a strong small forward best known for his defense and who could compliment Rose and Peterson well in the rotation. They then signed point guard Jose Calderon from Spain, who has a lot of international experience, including an impressive showing at this summer's Eurobasket. Rafael Araujo, last year's eighth overall pick in the draft, should be improved with a year of adjustment under his belt.
There are still some experienced veterans on this team though. Jalen Rose is a go-to scorer who can also run the point when needed and Morris Peterson is the type of shooter that every team would love to have. Eric Williams is a veteran leader and solid utility man off the bench.
The Raptors should have no problems scoring points, but defense and rebounding will be major issues. They were outrebounded by 5.2 boards per game last season, worst in the league. They allowed 101.4 points per game and their opponents had the second highest shooting percentage in the league. Graham should help with the defense and Villanueva will help on the boards, but it will take a commitment to doing the dirty work from everyone else in order to keep them competitive.
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Raptors Minipacks
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Slow starter
Araujo |
Rafael Araujo did not live up to his 8th overall pick status last year, playing just 12.5 minutes per game and averaging just 3.3 points and 3.1 rebounds. The Raptors need another inside presence and Araujo needs to step up in order to prove his doubters wrong and his GM right.
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THE STAT
The Raptors averaged 14.3 more points last season (99.7) then they did the year before (85.4). It was the third highest scoring increase in NBA history. |
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X&O STRENGTH
Graham |
Chris Bosh has a chance to be an outstanding player. He can do a lot of good things. He's not the type of player that wants to be the offensive force of the team. He'll have to grow into that a bit. I don't think that's his makeup... There's no doubt that the key to this team is whether Villanueva and Graham can come in and play right away. I like Graham. He can shoot. He's got a good body. He's tough. He's a pretty damn good foul shooter.
X&O WEAKNESS
When you think back, they had McGrady and Carter, and know look at this roster. This has to be one of the weakest rosters in the NBA. After Bosh, Rose and Peterson, I don't see a starter on this team... I'm not a big Villanueva fan. He's so inconsistent.
HEAD COACH PHILOSOPHY
Sam Mitchell is a tough guy. He wants to play very physical. He wants to be a really good defensive team. He'd like to run the ball, but I just don't see this team having the ability to run the basketball.
-- Kevin Loughery (courtesy of the National Basketball Coaches Association)
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Mike James: Assist numbers will go up with a starting job. |
Jalen Rose: May lose his job in favor of a youth movement. |
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"I think they're very young, and at least a year (maybe two) away from the playoffs... I would think Mike James would be their starting point guard... He's solid pt guard, handles well, passes well and can hit the outside shot, he doesn't have the penetration skills that you want your point guard to have. He's solid, on most teams he'd be a backup, but there he will start... Calderon comes from a program that has always won and he's had a big hand in that. It will be interesting to see if he can step up... Bosh is the guy that needs to carry this team. They'll be solid, probably slightly better than last year, but not to the point where they make the playoffs."
-- Eastern Conference scout |
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PLAYER/2004-05 STATS |
PPG |
RPG |
APG |
PG |
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11.8 |
2.8 |
3.6 |
SG |
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12.5 |
4.1 |
2.1 |
SF |
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18.5 |
3.4 |
2.6 |
PF |
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16.8 |
8.9 |
1.9 |
C |
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3.3 |
3.1 |
0.3 |
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G |
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-- |
-- |
-- |
F |
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-- |
-- |
-- |
F |
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-- |
-- |
-- |
F |
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7.7 |
3.1 |
1.7 |
C |
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3.9 |
4.9 |
0.4 |
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G |
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Free Agent |
F |
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Draft |
G |
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Trade |
F |
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Draft |
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G |
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Trade |
F |
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Free agent |
F |
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Waived |
G |
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Free agent |
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PPG |
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18.5 |
RPG |
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8.9 |
APG |
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6.4 |
SPG |
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1.48 |
BPG |
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1.40 |
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Points Scored |
99.7 |
(7th) |
Points Allowed |
101.4 |
(25th) |
Field-Goal Percentage |
.444 |
(19th) |
Opponents' FG% |
.467 |
(29th) |
Rebounding Diff. |
-5.15 |
(30th) |
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Nov. 2 vs. Washington (7:00 p.m. ET, RSN)
The Raptors open their season against Gilbert Arenas, Antawn Jamison and the Wizards.
 Buy tickets | Full Raptors schedule
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