Looking at the teams you've listed the Raptors with gives me hope
that the Raptors can get back to the playoffs next year. New York is
being led by Keith Van Horn (well, not completely, they've still got
Houston) Chicago is still young and doesn't really have someone who
can deliver every night. Washington could be a decent team but
didn't manage to make it to the playoffs with an aging Jordan, I
don't know if Gilbert Arenas will change them much from last year.
Kwame Brown could reach some of his potential next year though.
Philly, Orlando and Indiana will all be good teams next year but New
Orleans and Boston could be question marks. Of course the Raptors
depend on a healthy Vince but if he plays the way he's playing at the
qualifiers (I've only seen highlights but he seems fairly consistant)
he could be back at the level he was at in 00-01, where he's one of
the best players in the league. If Bosh is effective this year,
that's another bonus. Centre is the scary thing though. I think the
Raps can go as high as 6th this year, with a decent shot at making
the playoffs.


--- In rappak@yahoogroups.com, freewheel_99 <no_reply@y...> wrote:
> I prefer to save my team evaluations for training camp which isn't
> for a long time yet, but I'll do a short one right now. The Raptors
> have some decent talent, but have large flaws in the make up of the
> roster.
>
> Center: Too small with 6-9 Davis and skinny 6-10 Moiso. Bateer has
> good size but likely will watch more games than he plays.
>
> Power Forward: 6-8 JYD is also too small. Bradley is slow,
unathletic
> and untalented. Bosh is green but may be the swing factor for this
> season. Much depends on him.
>
> Small Forward: Peterson and Murray give the Raptors much needed
depth
> and scoring, but again are not big for the position. How Murray
plays
> coming off last season's injury will decide whether SF is a
position
> of strength or weakness.
>
> Shooting guard: It is all Carter and how many games he plays. He
> isn't the solution to the size problems the raptors have, but he
can
> make people forget about them. He isn't the player he was, but he
can
> still be everything we need as long as he continues to expand his
> game.
>
> Point guard: Average. Williams does not make things happen, he is a
> safe player who does the predictable, but nonetheless Williams is
> acceptable as long as he stays healthy. Palacio is just more of
> Williams with less scoring. Brunson brings little aside from injury
> insurance.
>
> If the Raptors were in the west they'd be considered an AWFUL team,
> but in the east the raptors have a chance at the playoffs. It would
> not surprise me if the raptors finished 8th as the final playoff
> team. The problem I see is that it will likely take 45 wins to get
> there. That is double what the raptors had last season. Doubling
your
> win total in one season is not something that happens often.
>
> I've put the Eastern Conference teams in categories. Any one of the
> teams could probably move up or down one category, but it is
unlikely
> any team will jump two or fall two. For instance I can't see
Toronto
> jumping up to be as good as Jersey or Detroit.
>
> New Jersey
> Detroit
>
> Indiana
> Orlando
> New Orleans
> Boston
> Philadelphia
>
> New York
> Toronto
> Chicago
> Washington
>
> Miami
> Cleveland
> Milwaukee
> Atlanta
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> --- In rappak@yahoogroups.com, "nbafan_6969" <andy_dude_381@h...>
> wrote:
> > Hi. I was wondering what some of you predict about the raptors
next
> > season. Several powerstandings for next season place raptors at
the
> > end, 26 or 26. I just wanted to know what some of you predict
about
> > the raps 03'-o4' season and where they might finish in the
eastern
> > standings. Thank you.
> >
> > email: andy_dude_381@h...