Toronto Raptors 2009-2010 Options

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There are high hopes (and expectations) for the 2009-2010 Toronto Raptors. Big changes in the off-season featuring major signings and trades, as well a big contract extension for Andrea Bargnani.

New players include: Hedo Turkoglu, Reggie Evans, Jarrett Jack, Marco Belinelli, Amir Johnson, Rasho Nesterovic (returning), Antoine Wright, Sonny Weems, and first round draft pick DeMar DeRozan. Little-used last season pick ups Quincy Douby, Marcus Banks, Patrick O'Bryant round out the roster.

Only Chris Bosh, Jose Calderon and Andrea Bargnani remain of the regulars from last season. Those three are projected to start with veteran Turkoglu and rookie DeRozan. The second unit and bench will be pretty much all new players (although Rasho had been a Raptor previously, and O'Bryant, Douby and Banks got a handful of minutes last season).

How well all these new players will gel remains to be seen. I'm going to the first home pre-season game this Wednesday (vs. Sixers) to check it out.

Some training camp intra-squad action.

Let's go Raptors!

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Two pre-season games, two losses to the Sixers. In early action I've been impressed with Sonny Weems (who I had never heard of). Very athletic. Amir Johnson has also looked good. And Reggie Evans has stunned the Raptor crowd: a man who knows how to grab a rebound--shock! A skill unseen in Raptor-land in years.

The expanded west side of the ACC has a video screen on the exterior, some new concessions (Burkie's Dog House for deluxe hot dogs), a new bar area, and a new studio area for Raptors TV.

Some pics I took tonight (exterior, shoot around, opening tip):


Oh, and those new refs. Yikes, do they like blowing the whistle or what? These first two Raptor-Sixer games, I've never seen so many fouls called.

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Just found this video of 3 Sonny Weems dunks from tonight. Last night he had a wicked ally oop dunk. Man can play above the rim.

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The Toronto Raptors start their season tomorrow night at home vs. the Cavs (who will hopefully be tired from tonight's game vs. Celtics). I will be at the game in my Jose Calderon jersey. Ole, ole!

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The Raptors start the 09-10 season with a big 101-91 win over the listless Cavs. LeBron's triple double and some questionable calls by the refs could not overcome the Raptor attack, led by Andrea Bargnani's game-high 28 points (in 30 minutes and 11-15 shooting), Chris Bosh's 16 rebounds and Jose Calderon's 11 assists.

The Raptor wants noise

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Hey Mark:
I watched the game last night - and yes I know it is only one game - but WOW - that was impressive! Bargnani looked like a #1 draft pick with his awesome 28 point performance. Bosh looked more agressive and clearly the 15lbs of muscle he added makes a difference - as he pulled down 16 rebounds to go along with his 21 points. And EVERYBODY else contributed significantly throughout to help with the win.

I have to admit after jumping out to a lead as large as 21 points in the second quarter and watching as that lead totally disappeared during the third quarter I was thinking - Oh no - just like last year. But then late in the third quarter this team did something last year's team never seemed capable of doing - they showed they have some pride - have a backbone and they fought back! They cranked it back up again and stopped the Cavs in their tracks. If not for some RIDICULOUS calls by the refs that kept the Cavs close in the 4th - the Raps would have run away and blown the Cavs out. Good to see the crowd SO AMPED and it was quite the scene with about a minute to go when Calderon scored and got fouled by Lebron to seal the game. That is certainly as loud as the ACC has been in quite some time.

And one of the most promising stats of last night is that the Raps held Cleveland to under 35% from the field with some really tough 'd'. Everybody said - sure the Raps will score - but they would have a hard time stopping others from scoring. Maybe - just maybe - the defence this team plays might surprise some people.

Now I'm REALLY looking forward to going to the game this Sunday with Vince returning to the ACC for the first time with the Magic.

(Gee can you tell I'm desparate for at least one Toronto team to be good - getting so excited after just one game. But can you blame me - Leafs only 1 win in 10 games to start the season. The Argos only 4 wins all year, the Jays were amongst the worst teams in baseball from about the middle of May on, and our soccer team managed to lose their last regualar season game - getting slaughtered 5-0 to New York - the worst team in the MLS - causing them to miss the playoffs yet again.)

So PLEASE - Let's Go Raptors!

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Well, it's nice to see that the Raptors are back to their old defensive tricks. Friday night they surrendered 115 points to Memphis, a team that had scored just 74 points in their previous game (vs. Detroit). This afternoon they allow Orlando (minus Vince Carter, Rashard Lewis and Mickael Pietrus) to score 125 points.

In their 1-2 start, Chris Bosh has averaged 31 points and 14.7 rebounds, Andrea Bargnani has averaged 22 points and 5 rebounds.

Last season Jose Calderon set an NBA record from the free throw line, going 151-154 (98.1%). Only 3 missed free throws the entire season! In 3 games this season, he's already missed 4 free throws (9-13).

Jose receiving free throw award from Bryan Colangelo before the start of the season opener on Wednesday:

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Yup - the first half in particular was brutal - just like so many games last year. They did pull to within 6 a few times in the 4th - and with about 4 minutes left got to within 4 - but it always seemed the Raps would miss the next 3-4 times down the court and Orlando would nail one of their many 3's. They ended up with 17 of those - that's 51 points!

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The Raptors seemed to have ignored their supposed push for better defense, but no matter, as the offense is getting the job done. With tonight's 107-90 victory in New Orleans, in which they made 14 treys, they go to 3-2. The Raps have scored over 100 points in all 5 games this season.

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Raps have re-acquired Pops Mensah-Bonsu off waivers from Houston. Yay! Pops is a high energy player who can come off the bench and grab some rebounds.