The New Raps Will Be A +0.500 Playoff Team

[hateslosing]

first you say "its way too early to start making predictions"
then you say this team's success you predict comes down to 3 players...

It's too early to make predictions about this team because of those 3 players. I don't think we are adding another big name to this roster this summer, we might see a bit more roster turnover but not much I think so I don't think that's going to be a big deal from this point on. The variables this season are how Amir, Demar, and Bargs play and it is far too early to make a judgement on that front since we don't know how much they have improved, what our playbook looks like, or even what our starting five is going to consist of. If they step up and we see things like Amir not fouling out and playing great garbage man ball, Bargs fighting for boards and helping on D, and Demar fighting through screens and scoring 15 ppg at a high percentage, this will be a dangerous team. If we see no improvement, we'll be the Nets or worse, the Timberwolves. What I meant when I said it is too early to make win loss predictions is we can't know if our guys have imporved or not and we really won't be able to say "playoff team" with any surety until we've seen these guys play 20 or 30 games in the new system.

[vinnie_paz]

I think it's way too early to start making predictions about this team, I mean we just lost our best player and really have no idea what the team is going to look like or what system we are going to run.

I do think this team has potential to be a playoff team but it is going to come down to three players: Bargs, Amir, and DD. If Bargs can take on the role of primary scorer and get maybe 22 a game at a fairly high percentage, If Amir can stay on the floor for 30 minutes a game at the same intensity level we saw last season, and if Demar can turn up the heat and become our secondary offensive threat I think you'll see an even better, more efficient offense than what we had even this last season.The Defense Will improve this season due to the addition of a couple new guys and Demar getting stronger.I'm excited.

first you say "its way too early to start making predictions"
then you say this team's success you predict comes down to 3 players...

[dn66]

...with the defensive strategy still to be developed.

Yep, with Bosh gone a new play book has to be written and a defensive strategy that
works from the first game has to be developed, and still our coach has time to coach the Yanks.
He must be very good/fast or we are very dumb paying him

[blaze89]

we will be near the basement of the east this year i hate to admit it but its clearly obvious

[Lark Benson]

I completely agree. If we see DD and Bargs develop into 20+ players, then this team is playoff bound for sure. Demar is our future, and he has to really step it up this year. For the team, and for his future.

I don't mean to be a jerk, but this is exactly the kind of thing that drives me nuts. Next season depends on a lot more than whether a couple of guys can increase their scoring averages, and scoring averages are NOT the measure of an offensive player. The Raps finished 5th in the league last year in PPG, how far did that get them?

[jlongs]

So I guess if you don't think the team is talented enough or good enough to make the playoffs, then you are considered a "hater." Nice.

[Arenick]

I think it's way too early to start making predictions about this team, I mean we just lost our best player and really have no idea what the team is going to look like or what system we are going to run.

I do think this team has potential to be a playoff team but it is going to come down to three players: Bargs, Amir, and DD. If Bargs can take on the role of primary scorer and get maybe 22 a game at a fairly high percentage, If Amir can stay on the floor for 30 minutes a game at the same intensity level we saw last season, and if Demar can turn up the heat and become our secondary offensive threat I think you'll see an even better, more efficient offense than what we had even this last season.The Defense Will improve this season due to the addition of a couple new guys and Demar getting stronger.I'm excited.

I completely agree. If we see DD and Bargs develop into 20+ players, then this team is playoff bound for sure. Demar is our future, and he has to really step it up this year. For the team, and for his future.

[Krix]

I don't see him changing many games till he develops a reliable jump shot.

Obviously you didn't see the Boston-Bulls playoff series.

[Mr.Grinch]

So, everyone is in agreement we will be a +500 team then?

Yes!

[hateslosing]

I think it's way too early to start making predictions about this team, I mean we just lost our best player and really have no idea what the team is going to look like or what system we are going to run.

I do think this team has potential to be a playoff team but it is going to come down to three players: Bargs, Amir, and DD. If Bargs can take on the role of primary scorer and get maybe 22 a game at a fairly high percentage, If Amir can stay on the floor for 30 minutes a game at the same intensity level we saw last season, and if Demar can turn up the heat and become our secondary offensive threat I think you'll see an even better, more efficient offense than what we had even this last season.The Defense Will improve this season due to the addition of a couple new guys and Demar getting stronger.I'm excited.

[Hassan]

seriously this season depends so much on demar derozan on my opinion we seriously need a franchise player and i think demar is that player but hes need to prove himself by preforming I can see the raps making the playoffs if demar can play some solid ball and score 18 points a game. if he can surprise everyone like brandon jennings did with the buck we can do very well. on the other hand if demar sucks this year so do the raps

[RPT23]

I'm going to swim against the current this time and agree with Multi... I think we're in for a few positive and overwhelming surprises. I've been preaching to my buddies that "this is the year... this is the time..."in the years past but always came up dissappointed. I can't give up the tradition now... lol.

[Apollo]

It takes character and loyalty to continue to cheer for your home team, that more than likely won't make the playoffs. Many of you are not unlike the three amigo's in Miami.

I think the fact that you're typing this on a Raptors fan site defeats the whole message. We wouldn't be here talking about the team's positives and negatives if we didn't care and cheer for the team. I think it will be interesting to see how those who claim this team is going to the playoffs react to the team falling well short.

[Old guy]

Realism does not exist in professional sports! It is all fairy tale and meant to make us forget how crappy the world is...much like all entertainment throughout history. There is nothing wrong with being critical, but there is also something to be said about positive thinking, and the power therein. It is my personal opinion that if bosh didn't quit half way through the year, and we didn't have the half ass attitude of Hedo the team would have performed better. As well I am beginning to see a "quitters" attitude that I didn't think Bosh had. He is not a winner, and couldn't bring this team to perform above level. The coaches and organization wanted him to be a leader, but he is anything but that. He is selfish, and now that I have read his latest comments I have to believe that he was bitter about being the number one option, and having to work hard. Now that attitude is gone, we will see different players, even from the ones we thought we knew.

Have faith man. The only place to go is up!

[smushmush]

I don't see why everyone is so afraid of the playoffs. So what if we get swept? It's 4 more games of experience. And if we do it with a record greater than .500, I'd say it's a step in the right direction. "Rebuilding" involves two things: adding young talent, and growing as a team. You don't grow as a team when you have a losing mentality.

The problem with being swept in the playoffs is a double tragedy - it shows that you were not supposed to be in the playoffs in the first place and the draft lottery position is in the middle(15-20) which does not help a team that has been swept except if you are good draft scouting organizations like the Spurs,Jazz, OKC, Portland. Add in that we are basketball siberia(even if some fans argue, it is a reality) and a small market like Spurs, Jazz, OKC and Portland but with a bad draft scouting instead and we are doomed to mediocrity.lol.. It is like the situation with the Atlanta Hawks where they can only get to the second round and get embarassed, they are and will never be close to being a contender(add cap killer Joe Johnson's $124m contract and it is much worse).. It seems that some Toronto fans like mediocrity and are wishing for the playoffs for the excitement(which unfortunately means more money for MLSE) where being out of the playoff race might actually be more helpful to the team.