Toronto Raptors 2012-13 NBA Preview

Photo Credit: Mark Runyon, basketballschedule.net

Toronto Raptors

2011-12 Vitals:

23-43, 4th in Atlantic Division, 11th in Eastern Conference
90.7 PPG/94.0 OPP PPG

2012-13 Roster:

Quincy Acy – SF
Alan Anderson – F
Andrea Bargnani – PF
Jose Calderon – PG
Ed Davis – PF
DeMar DeRozan – SG
Landry Fields – G
Aaron Gray – C
Amir Johnson – PF
Linas Kleiza – SF
Kyle Lowry – PG
John Lucas – PG
Dominic McGuire – SF
Terrence Ross – SG
Jonas Valanciunas – C
Tomislav Zubcic – SF

Offseason Additions:

Kyle Lowry, Jonas Valanciunas, Terrence Ross, Landry Fields, Quincy Acy, John Lucas, Alan Anderson

Offseason Subtractions:

Jerryd Bayless, James Johnson, Gary Forbes

Projected Starters:

PG – Kyle Lowry
SG – Terrence Ross
SF – DeMar DeRozan
PF – Andrea Bargnani
C – Jonas Valanciunas

Season Outlook:

The 2011-12 season for the Toronto Raptors was highlighted by continued improvement on the defensive end and a notable absence of good offensive performances.

The Raptors brought in a lot of new faces to help address those problems, with Kyle Lowry and Jonas Valanciunas heading the charge. Lowry is more athletic than incumbent Jose Calderon, and will be the point guard of the future. Valanciunas is expected to be the tough defensive anchor that has been lacking.

It’s not going to happen overnight, but the Raptors are on the road back to the playoffs. This year is out of the question, but the 2013-14 season is a definite possibility.

Best-Case Scenario:

Valanciunas doesn’t have trouble transitioning to the NBA game and the Raptors become a top-five defensive team. Offensively, Lowry and DeRozan hit it off and the Raptors win 40 games, narrowly missing out on the playoffs.

Worst-Case Scenario:

Foul trouble and a raw offensive game limit Valanciunas’ minutes and the rest of the Raptors continue to show poor execution on the offensive end. They’ll still compete defensively, but you can’t win games 0-0. 25 wins and another chance at winning the lottery.

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