Toronto Raptors: 50 Wins A Realistic Goal For 2014-15?

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Apr 30, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors head coach Dwane Casey talks to Toronto Raptors center Jonas Valanciunas (17) during a break in the action against the Brooklyn Nets in game five of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at the Air Canada Centre. Toronto defeated Brooklyn 115-113. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /

The center of attention

Jonas Valanciunas will be entering his third season with the Raptors and his third season as the team’s full-time starting center.

To this point in his career, the 22-year-old has posted very respectable numbers.

Season	G	GS	MP	FG%	FT%	TRB	BLK	PTS
2012-13	62	57	23.9	.557	.789	6.0	1.3	8.9
2013-14	81	81	28.2	.531	.762	8.8	0.9	11.3
Career	143	138	26.3	.540	.773	7.6	1.0	10.3

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 7/18/2014.

When I graded his rookie season, I spoke of Valanciunas as having an athletic ability and a skill-set similar to Andrew Bynum. Not the Bynum of recent years, but the healthy and motivated version of Bynum that averaged 18.7 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game and was named to the All-Star team in 2011-12.

Bynum showed significant improvement over his first three seasons as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Season	G	GS	MP	FG%	FT%	TRB	BLK	PTS
2005-06	46	0	7.3	.402	.296	1.7	0.5	1.6
2006-07	82	53	21.9	.558	.668	5.9	1.6	7.8
2007-08	35	25	28.8	.636	.695	10.2	2.1	13.1
Career	418	319	25.6	.556	.690	7.7	1.6	11.5

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 7/18/2014.

If Valanciunas were to produce per-game averages similar to what Bynum did in his third season (13.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, 2.1 blocks), then I would consider that to be a huge success.

At 6’11” and 235 pounds, Valanciunas is capable of matching up with pretty much every opposing center, particularly at the offensive end of the court.

What’s left for Valanciunas is to become a consistent double-figure rebounder and a reliable one-on-one defender, especially in pick-and-roll scenarios.

Year-to-year improvement is all I expect from a young player, but if that incremental growth translates into a breakout season for Valanciunas, then the Raptors may very well have a presence in the paint capable of helping them establish a new franchise record.

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