How good can the Raptors be?

[Test of Wills]

(Idea from wizard thread)
Once TJ comes back after the all-star break and when Bargs returns to his old form...How good can we really be? I think we could secure that 3rd or 4th seed and remember we had the 2nd toughest schedule in then league and didn't even have TJ and our glue guy in Garbo for the long stretch.

Ford/Calderon (either could start)- 2 Top 15 PG's in the league
Parker- Top 10 perimeter defender
Moon- Great man to man defender, shot blocker, rebounder
Bosh- Leader,Franchise, Anchors offense,defense and rebounding
Bargs- 2nd option (maybe) key to success

Then, we have our bench consisted of couple of veterans who know their roles, a sharpshooter, a hustle/dirty player, a slasher and a 2 players that do not know their roles . Mitchell will probably tighten up his rotation to a 8 man rotation that will be the starting 5 and Kapono, Delfino and Calderon/Ford.
But when you look at that starting 5 when Bargs and Parker our clicking we could have a very solid 5 with a balance of defense and offense. But the only problem I think BC needs to fix is the rebounding situation whether it is before the trading deadline or at the deadline we need to fix it because we will be destroyed on the glass by teams like the Cavs, Magic or the wiz in the playoffs. How good can the Raps really be though?

[random_hero891]

Ford/Calderon (either could start)- 2 Top 15 PG's in the league
Parker- Top 10 perimeter defender
Moon- Great man to man defender, shot blocker, rebounder
Bosh- Leader,Franchise, Anchors offense,defense and rebounding
Bargs- 2nd option (maybe) key to success

Our PG situation is pretty good, I'll give you that much, Parker: top 10 perimeter defender? ummmm I doubt that, maybe several years ago, when he could move, before bang. off-season old age hits him in the face like a load of bricks. Moon's a great defender but is a pretty big liability on offense. Bosh is an allstar, but isn't that great on the backside of the court. Bargs...did you just get back from some third world country with no cable and only catch his last 2 games? He's been playing awful this year and nowhere near ready to be a 2nd option...all and all a dreamers look at the raptors.

[EnigmaticProblem]

I don't understand why people keep talking about missing our "glue guy" in Garbo seeing as to how he averaged 10 minutes in 7 games. Heck, Baston's stats almost parallel Garbo's.

Everywhere you look, "Garbo, Garbo, Garbo"; Garbo wasn't playing-- .

[CB4ever]

I don't understand why people keep talking about missing our "glue guy" in Garbo seeing as to how he averaged 10 minutes in 7 games. Heck, Baston's stats almost parallel Garbo's.

Everywhere you look, "Garbo, Garbo, Garbo"; Garbo wasn't playing-- .

Did you forget how many games he started for the raptors last year?

[Test of Wills]

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Our PG situation is pretty good, I'll give you that much, Parker: top 10 perimeter defender? ummmm I doubt that, maybe several years ago, when he could move, before bang. off-season old age hits him in the face like a load of bricks. Moon's a great defender but is a pretty big liability on offense. Bosh is an allstar, but isn't that great on the backside of the court. Bargs...did you just get back from some third world country with no cable and only catch his last 2 games? He's been playing awful this year and nowhere near ready to be a 2nd option...all and all a dreamers look at the raptors.

Parker is only 31 and still has a good 2 years in him left and I think he does deserved to be mentioned as Top 10 perimeter defender especially since he guards the opposition's best player each night and still produces a good 10-15 points with great D. We don't really need Moon to score we need him to rebound and play D which is why he is in the lineup, yes he does make dumb decisions but who doesn't he still makes up for it with his amazing blocks, alley oops and occasional fast break layups/dunks. Bosh has been amazing the past month carrying this franchise with Caldy, scoring, making blocks, grabbing boards and making that extra pass he has been doing it all enough said. Bargs has been a major disappointment thus far and could still rebound from poor first half but he has not been bad the last two games i don't even care about the scoring i am just amazing with his hustle to grab some boards to average 7 boards in two games is a pretty impressive stat that we don't see from bargs. And i still think he could be the second option that is why i put a maybe beside second option, so don't count that out either.

[Silk Wilkes]

We really need to start looking for a guy to replace AP because by the time we're at Championship level he'll be older than dirt, unless he isn't in the longterm plans.

[MrBojangelz71]

We really need to start looking for a guy to replace AP because by the time we're at Championship level he'll be older than dirt, unless he isn't in the longterm plans.

Delfino

[Silk Wilkes]

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Delfino

Maybe if he can be a little more consistent than 25, 0, 16, 0, 8, 23, 26, 0, 0....

[theSkinny]

I don't understand why people keep talking about missing our "glue guy" in Garbo seeing as to how he averaged 10 minutes in 7 games. Heck, Baston's stats almost parallel Garbo's.

Everywhere you look, "Garbo, Garbo, Garbo"; Garbo wasn't playing-- .

He was playing injured this season, so using that as a barometer doesnt really work..

think about what he brought to the table last year...he was the "goon" type player we all say we need. Hard picks, a little elbow here and there and cleaned up alot of garbage..

Think about had he been 100% say had the surgery in the summer and came back in Dec. and TJ never got hurt our team would have more W's than just 24 at this point.

By next season both should be back 100% from the get go, Bargs will have had his summer of the big man, and we have a new draft pick.

Still looks pretty good to me.

[Ill Mago]

add glue guy to jamario's list of titles

[MrBojangelz71]

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Maybe if he can be a little more consistent than 25, 0, 16, 0, 8, 23, 26, 0, 0....

Agreed but this is his 1st season in the NBA receiving solid minutes. He will have some peaks and valley's over the next couple of seasons. Hopefully, if we sign him and I sure as hell hope we do, once AP retires in 3/4 years, Carlos will be more than ready to fill in. I believe he will be 28/29 by then and in his prime.

[Mr.Raptorsingh]

Speaking of Delfino, isn't this the final year on his contract? I remember him rejecting the Raps contract extension offer. So do you think he will be back next year or do you think he will opt to go back to Europe, like he almost did this offseason?

[EnigmaticProblem]

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Did you forget how many games he started for the raptors last year?

Are we forgetting the additions of Delfino, Moon, and maybe, just maybe Kapono; additional to Humphries' improvement, of course. lol..

[execoftheyear]

I think we're finally taking advantage of the space Bargnani creates out on the perimeter but it only works if Bargnani continues to be a constant threat on the offense/perimeter. We get really good ball movement when Bargs is involved on the offense and we're finally running cuts with all that open space inside the arc. Bosh being aggressive forces the defense to collapse leaving 1/4 of our perimeter guys open.

Simple but deadly offense that doesn't require much X's and O's but smart players that make smart decisions off defensive mistakes and we have the players that can create those defensive mistakes (Bargs on the perimeter and Bosh down low). Things are starting to click and this is definitely what BC envisioned at the start of the season, it was just Bargnani's struggles that set this team back. Everything just seems so much easier when Bargs is involved.

[teamLeiweke]

I agree... we have a glue guy of the future - Jamario Moon fits that role perfectly.

I also agree with whoever said Delfino can be our Parker replacement at the 2... hes a great scrappy defender, a good slasher, great rebounder for a SG, isnt afraid to take it to the whole, and will knock down the three.... I like him a lot.

Ill tell u how good we CAN be...

Calderon = Nash
Delfino = Ginobili
Moon = Tayshawn
Bosh = Bosh
Bargnani = Nowitzki

NBA CHAMPIONSHIP HERE WE COME!!!

[MrBojangelz71]

Speaking of Delfino, isn't this the final year on his contract? I remember him rejecting the Raps contract extension offer. So do you think he will be back next year or do you think he will opt to go back to Europe, like he almost did this offseason?

He stated that this year will be the year to prove he belongs in the NBA. If he is unsuccessful he would return to Europe, successful and he would stay. I say he stays most certainly.
I'm not sure what his status is at years end, UFA or RFA but I'm sure that'll play a factor. Also, depending on what we sign Jose to, will there be enough to keep Delfino happy. I'm assuming he will be looking for 4/5 per season.
I get the sense he like the organization and appreciates the opportunity to final strut his stuff on a regular basis. I also feel the international flavor on this team appeals to the likes of Carlos and will help keep him here.

[MrBojangelz71]

I agree... we have a glue guy of the future - Jamario Moon fits that role perfectly.

I also agree with whoever said Delfino can be our Parker replacement at the 2... hes a great scrappy defender, a good slasher, great rebounder for a SG, isnt afraid to take it to the whole, and will knock down the three.... I like him a lot.

Ill tell u how good we CAN be...

Calderon = Nash
Delfino = Ginobili
Moon = Tayshawn
Bosh = Bosh
Bargnani = Nowitzki

NBA CHAMPIONSHIP HERE WE COME!!!

Darrick Martin =

[jeffya2]

Delfino won't return to Europe

He has Euro Ball in TO but with better food & money

[power works]

Success for da Raps this season can easily be quantified by a number --- 50....as in wins. More important maybe is a trip to the 2nd round.

No secret how that can happen. TJ Ford has to be back effective and running the 2nd unit. The bench was a plus b4 he got hurt and JoCal had to start. Now they're painful to watch at times, and that maybe part of da reason Kapono looks like Damon Jones. All it takes is one player. TJ get well soon.

Now if Bargs snaps outta his funk, then be scared....be very scared.

[gniewek]

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Darrick Martin = (picture)

hahahaha! awesome!