Areas of Strength
Athleticism. With Rudy Gay, DeMar DeRozan, Terrence Ross and Amir Johnson, the Raptors have a young core than can get up and down the floor. And if Dwane Casey can get that core disciplined and on the same page, he can turn it back into a pretty good defensive team that can turn stops into easy buckets on the other end.
Needs Work
Shooting. As athletic as Gay and DeRozan are, it's a problem when neither of your two starting, highly-paid wings can stretch the floor and knock down shots consistently. Giving the 6-8 Gay minutes at the four could provide better spacing while also allowing Ross to develop quickly.
Two Stats That Matter
33.1 -- Raptor opponents attempted 33.1 free throws per 100 field goal attempts, the highest rate in the league.
1.6 -- The Raptors' defense allowed 103.8 points per 100 possessions after the Gay trade, 1.6 fewer than it allowed before the deal.
The Way To Go
Without any picks or cap space, there's not much the Raptors' new general manager can do. If continued efforts to trade Andrea Bargnani don't bear fruit, Toronto will still have the amnesty clause to finally part ways with the former No. 1 pick. Just as important as any moves the Raptors make is the offseason improvement of Jonas Valanciunas, who has the potential to be anchor on both ends of the floor.
2012-13 Team Stats (points per 100 possessions, with NBA rank)
Offensive: 102.9 (14)
Defensive: 104.7 (22)
Under Contract:
F: Quincy Acy
F/C: Andrea Bargnani
G: DeMar DeRozan
F: Landry Fields
F: Rudy Gay
F/C: Amir Johnson
F: Linas Kleiza
G: Kyle Lowry
G: Terrence Ross
C: Jonas Valanciunas
Free Agents:
F/G: Alan Anderson
C: Aaron Gray (player option)
G: John Lucas III (team option)
F: Mickael Pietrus
G: Sebastian Telfair
Recent Draft History:
2012: Maurice Harkless (15), Justin Hamilton (45), Tornike Shengelia (54)
2011: Nikola Vucevic (16), Lavoy Allen (50)
2010: Evan Turner (2)
2009: Jrue Holiday (17)
2008: Mareese Speights (16)
2007: Thaddeus Young (12), Daequan Cook (21), Petteri Koponen (30), Kyrylo Fesenko (38)
2006: Thabo Sefolosha (13)
*They clearly messed up by posting the Sixers draft history, instead our own ... bummer.
Source
Athleticism. With Rudy Gay, DeMar DeRozan, Terrence Ross and Amir Johnson, the Raptors have a young core than can get up and down the floor. And if Dwane Casey can get that core disciplined and on the same page, he can turn it back into a pretty good defensive team that can turn stops into easy buckets on the other end.
Needs Work
Shooting. As athletic as Gay and DeRozan are, it's a problem when neither of your two starting, highly-paid wings can stretch the floor and knock down shots consistently. Giving the 6-8 Gay minutes at the four could provide better spacing while also allowing Ross to develop quickly.
Two Stats That Matter
33.1 -- Raptor opponents attempted 33.1 free throws per 100 field goal attempts, the highest rate in the league.
1.6 -- The Raptors' defense allowed 103.8 points per 100 possessions after the Gay trade, 1.6 fewer than it allowed before the deal.
The Way To Go
Without any picks or cap space, there's not much the Raptors' new general manager can do. If continued efforts to trade Andrea Bargnani don't bear fruit, Toronto will still have the amnesty clause to finally part ways with the former No. 1 pick. Just as important as any moves the Raptors make is the offseason improvement of Jonas Valanciunas, who has the potential to be anchor on both ends of the floor.
2012-13 Team Stats (points per 100 possessions, with NBA rank)
Offensive: 102.9 (14)
Defensive: 104.7 (22)
Under Contract:
F: Quincy Acy
F/C: Andrea Bargnani
G: DeMar DeRozan
F: Landry Fields
F: Rudy Gay
F/C: Amir Johnson
F: Linas Kleiza
G: Kyle Lowry
G: Terrence Ross
C: Jonas Valanciunas
Free Agents:
F/G: Alan Anderson
C: Aaron Gray (player option)
G: John Lucas III (team option)
F: Mickael Pietrus
G: Sebastian Telfair
Recent Draft History:
2012: Maurice Harkless (15), Justin Hamilton (45), Tornike Shengelia (54)
2011: Nikola Vucevic (16), Lavoy Allen (50)
2010: Evan Turner (2)
2009: Jrue Holiday (17)
2008: Mareese Speights (16)
2007: Thaddeus Young (12), Daequan Cook (21), Petteri Koponen (30), Kyrylo Fesenko (38)
2006: Thabo Sefolosha (13)
*They clearly messed up by posting the Sixers draft history, instead our own ... bummer.
Source
And the stat about our defense being marginally better after Gay is interesting to see on paper.
Any serious objections to NBA.com's opinion of the Team?
I'd say its pretty fair and accurate.
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