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Toronto Raptors: What I May Think, Part 2

By Michael Modahl

Mar 2, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors center Jonas Valanciunas (17) and guard Dwight Buycks (13) and guard Greivis Vasquez (21) and forward Tyler Hansbrough (50) and forward Patrick Patterson (54) watch the final seconds tick away from the bench of their victory against the Golden State Warriors at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Warriors 104-98. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 2, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors center Jonas Valanciunas (17) and guard Dwight Buycks (13) and guard Greivis Vasquez (21) and forward Tyler Hansbrough (50) and forward Patrick Patterson (54) watch the final seconds tick away from the bench of their victory against the Golden State Warriors at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Warriors 104-98. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Last week, spurred on by watching some NFL games and wondering why the NBA can’t be a league of parity like the NFL, I wrote a column on what I thought I knew about the upcoming NBA season. By my (almost certainly flawed) logic, it seemed right that, as a follower and commentator of the Toronto Raptors and league as a whole, I would know, within some measure of error, what to expect in the near future. Really, things don’t change. Good teams are good and good players are good. Always. There are no worst-to-first stories like in the NFL, where optimistic fans can always hang their hats on the possibility. So having strong feelings and feeling good about them should go hand-in-hand with prognosticating the NBA.

In the part one that I wrote last week, I brought up my usual talking points when it came to the Toronto Raptors. I know that I love Jonas Valanciunas and I know that he is a franchise center by any definition. I think that I know that the Raptors know this and will act accordingly. Unfortunately, I only “think” that I know that, because I certainly was disappointed enough during the regular season by the lack of consistency in his use and his aggression.

But I think I know a lot more things when it comes to this team. Here are a few more in my Part 2.

I know Amir Johnson has carved out a nice niche over the past couple of seasons as a solid contributor at power forward for the Raptors and there is no reason to believe that he won’t do it again. However, I think I know that Patrick Patterson is an even more crucial cog in the machine for the upcoming season. Johnson is a highly efficient and one of my favorite players, frankly, but I don’t get the impression that he has a lot more to offer in terms of upside.

Patterson stretches the floor for a big man and can create some space for Valanciunas and also DeMar DeRozan, who I have conceded will never be an impressive three-point shooter. I know that Patterson and Johnson, along with newly acquired James Johnson, can form an efficient yet dangerous trio that supplements the main guys. But speaking of the main guys….

I know that before the start of the season last year I referred to DeRozan as “McGrady-lite” and meant every word of it.  I am thrilled at the steps he took as a player to make himself more well-rounded and respected, and he deserved every bit of his first All-Star appearance. I am convinced that DeRozan played his way out of GM Masai Ujiri’s grand scheme to trade him.

But I also know that DeRozan is never going to become the consistent long-range threat that would bring him to even another level. The numbers simply don’t bear it out. Even with an improvement from 26 to 28 to 30 percent over the last three years, there is no reason to believe that he is going to make a substantial leap to, say 36 or 37 percent. Because of this, I think I know that DeRozan isn’t ever going to be much more than he is now. I’m not complaining, but he probably can’t be the best player on a team competing for a championship.

I know that I was way off on Tyler Hansbrough last year and I am not going to make that mistake again. I can’t be sure of my exact description, or maybe I just don’t want to remember, but I think I said things like “vital” and “toughness that will prove invaluable” and I even claimed that his presence would make things easier for Valanciunas. Hansbrough didn’t end up serving much of a purpose, and I don’t expect it to be different this season, especially with the addition of James Johnson. Hansbrough’s skill set is already very limited, and he doesn’t serve as an upgrade in any capacity. I know that I was trying to see something that wasn’t there. I don’t see anything now.

I also know that this might not paint a pretty picture of my view of the Raptors moving forward. That isn’t true at all; the negative stuff will always ring stronger in the critic’s mind. But I will really have something to hang a hat on if Valanciunas wins an MVP one day. I know people will raise an eye to that one.

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