Toronto Raptors: Grading Each Players’ Performance In 2012-13
Rudy Gay was not able to carry the Toronto Raptors to the playoffs after arriving in a trade on Jan. 30. (Photo Credit: Keith Allison, Flickr.com)
The Toronto Raptors head into the final four games of 2012-13 with nothing to play for but pride. So with the team set to miss the playoffs for the fifth consecutive year, the time has arrived to hand out a report card to each player on the roster.
Overall, I have to say there have not been many bright spots for the Raptors in this very disappointing season.
The Veterans
Rudy Gay, SF: B
On Jan. 30, the Raptors made a big splash by acquiring Rudy Gay and the $37.2 million owed to him for two more years beyond this season.
The team sat in 11th place in the Eastern Conference with a 16-30 record at the time of the trade, but management jumped at the opportunity to add much-needed scoring and athleticism at the small forward position.
In 29 games with the Raptors, Gay is averaging 19.1 points on 41.5 percent shooting from the field, compared to 17.2 points and 40.8 percent shooting in 42 games with the Memphis Grizzlies leading up to the deal.
Gay guided the Raptors to a 7-3 record in his first 10 games, highlighted by a win against the New York Knicks on Feb. 22 in which he posted 32 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two steals.
That night, the Raptors pulled to within four games of the eighth playoff seed, but went on to lose five straight games and fell out of contention.
Realistically, the Raptors’ playoff hopes were squashed after they started the season 4-19, so I’m not going to put all of the blame on Gay.
There is no doubt that Gay brought an infusion of talent to the team, but he appeared to coast through games at times.
He will need to develop his leadership skills, or at least be a good example on the court, in order for this young team to take the next step.
DeMar DeRozan, SG: B
Just hours before the season opener, the Raptors signed DeMar DeRozan to a 4-year, $40 million contract extension that kicks in next season.
The contract was a topic of conversation in Toronto because the organization could have taken one more season to evaluate DeRozan and then matched any offer that he might have received as a restricted free agent or simply could have let him walk.
Instead, DeRozan was put in a position this season of proving that he is worth the money.
DeMar DeRozan signed a lucrative extension just before the start of the season. (Photo Credit: Basketball Schedule, Flickr.com)
DeRozan is averaging a career-high 17.6 points per game this season, which ranks him sixth among shooting guards, and he is connecting on 43.7 percent of his field-goal attempts.
The former University of Southern California star is an excellent free-throw shooter at 82.5 percent, but he is averaging just 5.1 attempts per game at the line. Although that ranks him 18th in the league, DeRozan can do better.
He has launched a career-high 108 3-point attempts in 2012-13 but with a success rate of just 23.1 percent.
Putting the ball on the floor should be the focus as opposed to settling for long jumpers, as it would help bump DeRozan’s free-throw attempts to somewhere between seven and 10 per game–which is attainable for him given his athleticism.
Kyle Lowry, PG: B-
From the moment Kyle Lowry was acquired last summer, he was billed as the team’s starting point guard.
He lost his starting role early in the season, in part due to injury, but was finally appointed as the full-time starter when Jose Calderon was traded as part of the Gay deal.
Lowry, who this season has averaged 12 points and 6.4 assists per game as a starter versus 11.2 points and 5.9 assists as a bench player, is very quick with excellent passing ability.
At just 6’, Lowry is also averaging an impressive 4.6 rebounds per game.
Although he energizes the offense, Lowry needs to improve his decision making, especially with shot selection.
Lowry has shown a knack for getting the ball to his teammates at the right spots on the court, be he needs to do this on a consistent basis.
Amir Johnson, PF: A+
Amir Johnson is the heart and soul of this team.
The perfect example of a guy that a coach doesn’t have to run plays for, Johnson is averaging career highs in both points (9.9) and rebounds (7.6).
Johnson’s devotion to the team went beyond his hustle on the court this season when he shaved the Raptors’ logo into his hair and dyed it red.
He scored 12 points and grabbed 21 rebounds in a win over the Charlotte Bobcats on March 15–perhaps his best performance of the season.
The Rookies
Terrence Ross, SG: B-
Terrence Ross’ most notable achievement this season was winning the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest.
There is no denying his ability to finish at the rim, which Ross often puts on display during fast-break opportunities, but his shooting touch (40.7) and defense will need to improve for him to receive more playing time in 2013-14.
In 72 games this season, Ross is averaging 6.4 points and two rebounds in 17 minutes of action.
An encouraging sign is that Ross is shooting 52 percent from the field in five games played in April.
Jonas Valanciunas, C: A
I wrote an article on Jonas Valanciunas’ performance last month and I have not wavered from that opinion.
Valanciunas suffered a strained neck in the final seconds of a win over the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday, April 9 and is doubtful for the rematch on Friday, April 12, but he has made the most out of the increased playing time he has seen in recent weeks.
Quincy Acy, SF: Incomplete
Quincy Acy spent some time in the NBA Developmental League and has appeared in just 25 games for the Raptors. However, Acy, who has been compared to Reggie Evans of the Brooklyn Nets, does have an upside.
Like Johnson, he prides himself on out-working every other player on the court.
Although just 6’7”, Acy is more of a power forward and boasts a wingspan of 7’3”.
The Role Players
Alan Anderson, SG: B-
Alan Anderson has been the Raptors’ most reliable scoring option off the bench, averaging 10.9 points in 61 games.
The downside is that Anderson is shooting just 38.7 percent from the field and doesn’t offer much beyond his jump shot on a regular basis.
Anderson poured in a career-high 35 points in a loss to the Knicks on March 22.
John Lucas III, PG: C
John Lucas is a high-energy player and a streaky shooter, the downside being that he doesn’t shy away from firing up shots even when his touch has gone cold.
There were times this season when he arguably shot the Raptors out of some close games.
Overall, though, Lucas hasn’t been a huge factor, averaging 12.9 minutes in 58 appearances.
Aaron Gray, C: B
Aaron Gray, who has played in 39 games with 14 starts, is usually called upon when players above him on the depth chart are injured.
Gray is a big body who doesn’t try to do too much. He is a capable rebounder, has a soft touch around the rim and can always be counted on to set a hard pick.
The Forgotten
Sebastian Telfair, PG: Incomplete
Sebastian Telfair has appeared in 13 games for the Raptors since being acquired from the Phoenix Suns at the trade deadline.
There is a reason for his limited use, as Telfair has shot poorly (29 percent) and scored just 4.3 points in 14.3 minutes per game.
However, I will give him credit for averaging three assists per game in those limited minutes.
Linas Kleiza, SF: D-
Linas Kleiza has battled numerous injuries and appeared in just 108 games since signing with the Raptors prior to the 2010-11 season.
Kleiza has a player option of $4.6 million for next season and is a likely candidate to be cut, using the amnesty clause, if he decides to exercise his contract.
Mickael Pietrus, SF: F
Mickael Pietrus was signed by the Raptors in November to provide depth at the small forward position but he has appeared in just 19 games and has spent most of the season sidelined with a knee injury.
He was irrelevant on this team long before Gay arrived.
The Epic Failures
Landry Fields, SF: F
Last summer, Landry Fields was signed to a 3-year, $18.75 million offer sheet which the Knicks decided not to match.
There were ulterior motives for this deal that I will not explain here, except to say that it had to do with the desire to bring Steve Nash to Toronto.
Either way, the Raptors ended up being stuck with Fields and his contract and the player has done little to prove his worth so far.
He has missed time due to injury and his numbers have dipped across the board for a second straight season.
Andrea Bargnani, PF: F
Andrea Bargnani has not met the expectations of Toronto Raptors fans since being drafted first overall in 2006. (Photo Credit: Keith Allison, Flickr.com)
Andrea Bargnani‘s tenure with the Raptors probably would have ended at the trade deadline if it weren’t for his injury woes this season.
On March 10, he was shut down for the season because of a right elbow injury.
Bargnani’s reluctance to play defense and rebound was a sore spot for fans for years and it finally boiled over this season.
Although management has finally shown a willingness to trade Bargnani, there is a possibility that he will begin the 2013-14 season with the Raptors in order to gain some trade value which presently is at an all-time low.