A lot has been going on in Raptorland. Here we are again sitting at the doorstep of yet another losing season and the dinos are currently sitting in the second to last position in the eastern conference. If any one of you are like me and truly do care about this team then you must have gone through a plethora of emotions during this season.
You probably started off the season being very optimistic. The pundits and pseudo-know-it-alls managed to convince all of us that this years edition of the Raps were good enough to finish the season in the middle of the pack. Place anywhere from fourth to sixth place; make the playoffs and maybe even make it out of the first round. The fact that the team started the season by winning their first three games also added to the illusion but ever since that mark, the team has shown that they really are what they are.
"They are NOT who we thought they were"
I had to pay a little humorous homage to the infamous public rant by Dennis Green back in October of 2006 after his team failed to secure a victory against a much better Chicago Bears team.
The Raptors are not who we thought they were. Even though we added Jermaine O'Neal to the fold; we should have known better that the teams make-up was not built to withstand the test of more physically and athletically gifted teams in the league. Although the expectations were high, the shocker for me is the fact that we lost this many games and are just sitting one spot above the Washington Wizards. The Raps are not good enough to meet the preseason expectations but are most definitely not this bad to be in this current position. Let's be honest here; if the Wizards had Gilbert Arenas playing all season and were not plagued with numerous injuries to a lot of their core players, they would be sitting above us and we would be the ones sitting in the last place. I take a look at the standings and see Milwaukee, Indiana, New Jersey and New York ahead of us. Does anyone serious think that these teams are better than the Raptors. One thing that these teams have in common and of which we are serious lacking is the ultra-athletic wing player. Richard Jefferson, Danny Granger, Vince Carter and Al Harrington. Pre-Shawn Marion; all we had on the wing were Anthony Parker, Joey Graham and Jason Kapono. SERIOUSLY??? These three are good players that should be coming off the bench for us. They would be the perfect backup for a team that has an any one of the wing players from the aforementioned teams named above.
This leads me to the 2009 NBA draft. With this season rapidly coming to an end, it's natural for teams that will be spending the month of April doing nothing to start looking forward tot he next season. Team scouts are not the only ones that keep an eye out for college ballers that might be declaring for the draft. Fans like me actually make mental notes and sometimes even write down the name and specifics of college players that I feel will be a good fit for the Raptors. Based on the teams area of need and sometimes based on a guess-timation of draft class and team draft position. For those that have read an earlier post that I wrote about team success being on the wing, then it shouldn't be a surprise when you read the list of potential draft-able players that I feel our Raptors should pick if they are available. I personally like these three players and strongly feel that they will be able to make an immediate contribution to the Raps.
Gerald Henderson. SG, 6'5. Duke
Henderson is an athletic wing player with the toughness that the Raptors badly need in that position. If anyone doubts how tough this kid is - please check out this link from YouTube in which he gives Tyler Hansbrough a "little love tap."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5glRSAUVCQ
Don't just typecast him as a goon that can "throw them bows", he is also a very talented played that can fill up the basket in bunches. He plays great defense and can literally jump right out of the gym.
James Harden. SG, 6'5. Arizona
Lefties are revered in the world of sports. This lefty is a smooth operator that averages 21ppg and 5rpg for the Wildcats. Harden is a flat out scorer that can do a little bit of everything really well - except play solid defense. I am not too worried about his defense since everything I have seen, read and heard about him states that he is an extreme hard worker and competitor. He has often handled the point guard responsibilities for his team in order to create mismatches.
Demar DeRozan. SG, 6'6. USC
DeRozan is the baller that intrigues me the most. His extremely freakish athletic ability makes me overlook all his deficiencies; and trust me, their are a few. He is not a good shooter. His dribbling skills need a lot of work and he often relies on fast breaking opportunities to get his points. With that said, he honestly has the biggest upside of all three of my picks ans for that matter of many of the players that will be drafted. (An obvious exception is Blake Griffin. Okay. A quick B-Griff rant: If in some miraculous way, the Raps secure the first overall pick and pick Griffin. I would be absolutely overjoyed. He plays the same position as Bosh and will have to play right away because he is that good a player. I say we trade Bosh and get some good pieces to put beside Griffin, Bargnani and Calderon. Draft picks of other players would do. I am boldly saying this right now that I would take Griffin right now over Bosh. I need to stress that I think the world of CB4 but the pending 2010 drama is the main reason why I say this. There is no guarantee that Bosh will stay and if we get the first pick then he becomes a great trading asset. End of rant!!!) DeRozans shooting form is not awkward and he is athletically gifted enough to work on his in-between game and dribbling skills. He will make a good pro; hopefully it's with the Raptors.
I am still very much interested in how this season unfolds. The Raps have won four of the last five games and are again showing that they are not as bad as their record indicates but at the same time are showing that the needs on the wing should be addressed in next years draft or through trades. After a roller-coast of emotions that had me initially optimistic, then skeptical followed by disappointment and eventually pessimism. I have come full circle back to optimism. After all, I am a true Toronto Raptor fan and I honestly believe in next years team.
Sportacularly yours,
The Vicarious Athlete
