Toronto Raptors Blog
Internal Improvement Candidates: Atlantic Division
The Raptors were the poster boys for the benefits of internal improvement last season. Terrence Ross, Iman Shumpert, Mason Plumlee, Michael Carter-Williams and Tyler Zeller can offer their teams improvement from within. Read more »
Jonas Valanciunas As Franchise Player
You can count the number of centers in the NBA with more two-way ability than Jonas Valanciunas on one hand - Dwight Howard, Marc Gasol, Joakim Noah, Tim Duncan. The scary part is that he’s only scratched the surface of his potential. Read more »
RealGM's Playoff Predictions
All eight RealGM writers predict the Heat along with either the Thunder or Spurs to reach The Finals. Read more »
Two Reinventions: Previewing Raptors Vs. Nets
Both of these teams reinvented themselves for different reasons during the regular season. For the Raptors, it came after the Rudy Gay trade in freeing up Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan. The Nets fixed their season by embracing small ball. Read more »
The Eastern Conference At The Deadline
The East deals included the only two All-Stars dealt (Antawn Jamison and Danny Granger), the two best players (Evan Turner and Spencer Hawes), and the smartest player (Professor Andre Miller, PhD). Read more »
Terrence Ross Keying Raptors' Ascent, Reason For Optimism
Over the last generation, many of the league’s best shooting guard prospects have been undone by getting too much too soon. Terrence Ross has been the exact opposite, an All-NBA talent forced to pay his dues and learn the game at every stop of the way. Read more »
Hansbrough Brings Experience, Toughness To Raptors
Tyler Hansbrough is far from an extrovert, but his experiences in Indiana are something he can pass along to teammates in Toronto. Like the Pacers, the Raptors are looking to transform into a contender through smart drafting and shrewd moves. Read more »
Why The Cavaliers' Model Continues To Setup Failure
The logic of the Cavaliers trading for Luol Deng is entirely backwards. Cleveland seems to think making the playoffs proves they are a legitimate NBA franchise. The reality is you can miss the playoffs and be a legit franchise and you can make the playoffs and not be one. Read more »
Rudy Gay Faces Difficulty Of Recapturing Budding Stardom
Rudy Gay reached a peak three seasons ago, and at 27 now he hasn’t attained the individual or team milestones that his gifts were expected to bestow. Three games into the Raptors’ season, his shooting is pedestrian and he admits he’s hastily searching for an offensive rhythm. Read more »
30 Rapid-Fire Questions For Each Team's Front Office
The following 30 questions are the biggest issues facing each NBA front office as the 13-14 regular season begins. Read more »
Top-10 Lottery Teams That Could Make The 2014 NBA Playoffs
The Pelicans, Raptors, Pistons, Wolves, Cavaliers, Blazers, Wizards, Mavericks, and maybe even the Kings and Bobcats could find their way into the playoffs if a number of things go right. Read more »
Jonas Valanciunas And The New Big Man Synthesis
The highest-drafted Lithuanian of all-time (No. 5 in 2011), Jonas Valanciunas is the rare gigantic center with both athleticism and coordination. When the biggest guy on the floor knows how to use his size to his advantage, it’s a problem for everyone else. Read more »
30-Team Offseason Rundown
Great drafts for the Rockets, 76ers, Nets, Warriors, Hawks and Grizzlies headline this complete rundown of the 2013 offseason. Read more »
2013 NBA Offseason Primer
With the 2013 NBA offseason underway, here is a primer on what all 30 teams are facing. Read more »
Leroux's 2013 NBA Draft Review
Breaking down all 30 teams by category of how they fared in the often surprising, never disappointing 2013 NBA Draft. Read more »
2013 NBA Amnesty Primer
One fun component of the Amnesty rule is that we know exactly which players are eligible for it and that number can only decrease over time since the players had to have been under contract with the same team before the new CBA. Read more »
John Lucas III Thrives After Adjusting To Raptors
From Tom Thibodeau’s strict system to Dwane Casey’s schemes, John Lucas III values the styles of both coaches. He’s forever grateful for the way he grew under Thibodeau, receiving his first true platform to exhibit his game, and enjoys the chance now with Casey’s Raptors. Read more »
Bargnani Still Overcoming Elbow Injury As Patience Runs Thin Around Him
For Andrea Bargnani now, there’s always something new – from criticism inside and outside the Raptors to continued discussion about his capacity living up to the No. 1 pick Toronto used on him in 2006. Read more »
How Many Players Teams Acquire At Each Trade Deadline On Average
The Kings, Knicks, Rockets, Thunder and Cavaliers have been the most active teams at the deadline over the past decade, while the Spurs, Pistons, Heat, Lakers and Pacers have made the fewest deals. Read more »
Jose Calderon Rejuvenates Pistons' Culture, Smoothens Offense
Jose Calderon has already injected the Pistons with a new sense of confidence. Lawrence Frank marvels about Calderon’s calmness and leadership, and the coach has begun to rely upon him to smooth over the offense and, more importantly, rub his knowledge on Brandon Knight. Read more »