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By Chris O'Leary

Raptors Overview

The most important question the Raptors will face this year will be “can they stay healthy?” Last season was a disaster from the start for Toronto, as the only player to play in all 82 games was swingman Morris Peterson. As always, health is a big if – and with this in mind – if the Raptors can stay healthy (especially Vince Carter), this team should be good enough to make the playoffs, but, pending some major roster alterations, won’t be good enough to make an impact when they get there.

Frontcourt

Toronto was outplayed under the basket all last season. Again, injuries to Antonio Davis, Jerome Williams, and then every token big man in the Raptors’ rotation certainly didn’t have any positive effects for the Raptors. Left basically to fend for himself, Jerome Williams showed that he’s a relentless bundle of energy, but that it takes more than one rebounder to beat the opposition. An immediate contribution will be needed from Chris Bosh, the fourth overall pick of this past June’s draft, if Toronto hopes to have any presence in the post this season. GM Glen Grunwald saw his undersized team’s punishment down low, and in light of this has brought in some fresh new lane cloggers, such as Chinese import Mengke Bateer and Stanley “Fat” Roberts to offer some help for Antonio Davis and Jerome Williams.

Backcourt

Toronto’s perimeter play runs through the productivity of Vince Carter. When healthy, Vince was capable of driving on anyone he wanted to, and as a result of this, defenses were forced to adjust, and in turn, the perimeter was opened up for shooters like Mo Pete and Alvin Williams. When Vince is hurt, as he has been for the past year and a half, he’s changed his game and began to rely on his jumper too much. When this happens, the motion of Toronto’s offense comes to a standstill, with Vince shooting and everyone else watching. After taking the majority of the off season to rest his knee, Vince had a strong showing in Puerto-Rico this summer, filling in for Kobe Bryant, who had his own court dates to worry about. If Carter can stay healthy, things should look up from last season’s dismal team performance. A healthy team will equal more wins, and this could serve to ail some of the Raptor’s more vocal discontents (Antonio Davis). The joy that only two seasons ago surrounded the Rap’s training camp seems to be gone, but this is due to the fact that the guys there are competitors, and hate to lose. Should the Raptors turn their fortunes around this season and become competitive again, everyone will be happy where they are once again.

Keys to Success

Obviously, a healthy and productive Vince Carter will make all the difference to this team. Though it may be going out on a limb, let’s assume that Vince will be this and more for the Raptors.

Who else then, needs to step up for this team to succeed? Aside from the presence that Toronto is hoping Chris Bosh will provide, a second scorer has been high on the Rap’s wish list since they days T-Mac wore white and purple. The team has been waiting for Morris Peterson to fill that role for the last two seasons but he hasn’t been able to bring it consistently yet. An overlooked pick up from last summer was forward Lammond Murray. Before missing all of last season with a foot injury, Murray was being looked to as that long sought after second scorer. In his last season with Cleveland (2001-02), Murray led the Cavs in scoring. Provided he doesn’t play with the same mentality that now former Raptor Voshon Leonard played with, and is willing to play sidekick to Vince, Murray could have a breakout season of sorts, possibly in a 6th man of the year capacity.

Another key to Toronto’s success will come from behind the bench. New head coach Kevin O’Neill has taken Lenny Wilkens’ spot and this should result in a team that is more defensively oriented. Credited with instilling the defensive intensity in the Detroit Pistons’ program as an assistant coach, O’Neill’s philosophies on the game could be the kick in the pants that the Raptors often appeared to need last season.

The Big Picture

After last season’s depressing results, the Raptors have basically nowhere to go but up. Provided everyone stays healthy, and that Bosh and Murray can step up their games when needed, a defense-first mentality team could end up sitting as high as 6th in the Eastern conference at the end of April.