Toronto Raptors Season Preview History
Toronto Raptors 2012 NBA Preview:
It was a tumultuous 2011 for Toronto, but with a new year the Raptors are looking to build on the blooming career of Italian center Andrea Bargnani, who led the team last year with 21.4 points per game. The European game is very represented here with point guard Jose Calderon pushing it the court. With power forwards Reggie Evans and Amir Johnson showing last year what they could do, it looks like the Raps could be in for a big year if everything goes their way.
2010-2011 Toronto Raptors NBA Preview:
The Toronto Raptors lost their two best players in the offseason when Chris Bosh jumped ship to join the Miami Heat, and forward Hedo Turkoglu ended up with the Phoenix Suns. Their absence creates a significant void in scoring, and leaves head coach Jay Triano in a difficult position to try to return Toronto to the playoffs for the first time since 2007.
Without a go-to scorer like Bosh, the Raptors will have to find someone new to provide the bulk of their offense. Point guards Jose Calderon and Jarrett Jack proved they could run the offense, but neither are reliable scorers. Perhaps the most credible option is 7-foot center Andrea Bargnani, who averaged 17.2 points a game last season.
While Bargnani may be a solid scorer, his defense leaves much to be desired and so does the team as a whole. The Raptors were 27th in points allowed last season, giving up an average of 105.9 points per game.
It's not easy to recover from the loss of two franchise players, and Toronto will likely struggle as they attempt to rebuild.
2009-2010 Toronto Raptors NBA Preview:
The Toronto Raptors head into the 2009-2010 NBA season with a great chance to make the playoffs in the Eastern Conference. The talented Raptors lineup includes young stars Andrea Bargnani, Chris Bosh and Jose Calderon. If those three can mesh with younger Toronto players like DeMar DeRozan and Antoine Wright, then expect the Raptors to make some noise in the East.
2008-2009 Toronto Raptors NBA Preview:
The Toronto Raptors are a team to watch this season in the NBA. The absence of TJ Ford will be remedied with the exciting presence of Jermaine O'Neal. O'Neal and Chris Bosh will make scoring look easy, and should pave the way for the remaining Raptor defenders to put the pressure on. The Raptors have their work cut out for them in a tough division that includes the New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, and Philadelphia 76ers. Go to a Toronto Raptors game at the Air Canada Center and you can expect to see a fast paced young team playing in front of one of the league’s most loyal crowds at a state of the art arena.