OK, I’m gonna go through and do the typical “grade everyone on the season” thing. Yeah, everyone does it. So what. It’s fun.Let’s start from the top down:

MLSE

I have to give MLSE credit this year; first of all, they shelled out the money for Bryan Colangelo, and second, they didn’t stand in the way of any of the moves BC wanted to make. Peddie and Tanenbaum have, mercifully, stayed behind the scenes. Finally, they have good basketball people - BC, as well as Wayne Embry and Maurizio Gherardini - in place, and they’re actually letting them make the decisions. I realize that I shouldn’t be praising them for something they should just be doing anyway, but this is a step forward for these guys.

Now, they’ve still massively screwed up on the television thing - as I’ve ranted about on numerous occasions - but I hope that the success of this season should give them more options going into next season, and hopefully, they’ll make the right decision this time.
Grade: B

Bryan Colangelo

I have absolutely nothing bad to say here. Every move he made was good, except the Fred Jones signing - and he turned Jones into Juan Dixon, another solid move. But more than just the moves themselves, he’s added a definite sense of credibility to our franchise that was a laughingstock under Rob Babcock. We were a joke before, now we’re respected around the NBA. That’s no easy task.

Furthermore, he’s left the fans with the feeling that success is actually possible. We were getting used to losing, with no end in sight. Now we’ve had success, and BC’s clearly got a plan in place to bring continued success. He’s got the core guys signed long-term, and all the role players have manageable, or tradeable, contracts. There’s no dead wood on the roster. And he’s given us the confidence that any move that gets made, will be a good one - or will be corrected if it isn’t.

This franchise looks damn good moving forward. You sure as heck couldn’t say that 14 months ago.
Grade: A+

Sam Mitchell

I like Sam, I’ve decided. Two years ago, I hated him. Thought he was the worst coach the Raptors ever had and couldn’t coach 10-year olds, let alone NBA players. Add the yelling, the weird stories of fighting in the locker room, the patronizing tone at press conferences… he brought nothing to the table.

Last year, he was handed a terrible roster, one which his own GM said was even worse than the year before. So I let that slide. Even after the 1-15 start. You know what? That team sucked. Red Auerbach couldn’t have coached them to 35 wins. Why not let Sam coach it out and see if he learns anything.

Well, he may not have learned much in the way of Xs and Os but I do believe he’s grown in leaps and bounds in his ability to relate, prepare and motivate his team - all while facing a whole host of additional challenges, incluyding the nine new players, the international players, the new GM, the constant threat of being fired, being a “lame duck,” the 2-8 start. All of it - the Raptors were always prepared, always played hard.

And he made adjustments that worked, and wasn’t afraid to try new things. He gave Bargnani extra playing time after watching him struggle early. He moved Fred Jones into the lineup for MoPete, and moved MoPete out for Garbajosa. He integrated Juan Dixon as a major piece in mid-season! He juggled minutes for two starting-quality point guards.

He coached the team to 47 wins, the Atlantic Division title, and home court in the playoffs. For all those things, he was named coach of the year.

Still, there are questions, many of which arose in the playoff series against New Jersey. His Xs and Os, long suspect, are still an issue - why couldn’t he figure out how to get Chris Bosh the ball in good position for the first four games? Or how to beat the zone? Or how to keep Jason Kidd off the glass? As the series went on, you saw how successful the adjustments he made were. But of course, in the playoffs, you don’t have a lot of time to wait and see how things work, so it was too little too late. And hey, he did draw up a great play on the final possession.

All in all, you can clearly see the improvement Mitchell has made as a coach, in all areas - including talking to the media. Now he’s witty and sarcastic, not a jackass.

He’s a free agent now, and I believe they should bring him back. There, I said it. I’ve thought about it a lot, and that’s my opinion - he has proven his ability to learn on the job and improve, there’s no reason to think he won’t continue to get better. The team likes him, and I think continuity and chemistry is important. And besides, the credibility of the franchise is in danger again if we let the coach of the year walk away. I think - unless of course Sam doesn’t want to come back - they need to make him a good offer and not let him get away.
Grade: B+

Chris Bosh

A no-show in the first 5 ¾ games of the playoffs shouldn’t diminish what a great season this guy had. His game continues to evolve and he continues to improve his basketball IQ. His shot selection and passing got better and better as the season went along. His range is solid all the way out to 18 feet, and he even knocked down a couple of threes.

His defense, though, is still lacking. He’s a decent one-on-one defender, but a terrible help defender (although I thought he did a much better job on help in the playoffs - that may be because the guys he was guarding, Moore and Collins, are not offensive threats). Basically 80% of the time, he makes the wrong decision on when to leave his man and help, and when to stay. Hopefully this instinct will improve with time.

As for rebounding, he averaged 10+ which is a great number. But, he had definite trouble blocking out smaller and slower players, leading to many instances of me yelling “Box out, Chris!!” at the TV. No, I’m not normal.

Anyway, this is another skill/instinct that I hope and suspect will improve over the next couple of years. He’s improved in every way across the board in his first four years, I’m sure we’ll continue to see improvement going forward.
Grade: A

TJ Ford

Solid first year as a Raptor. Would I like to see the turnovers down? Yes. Better body control going to the rim? Yes. Better decisions overall? Yes.

So, he’s not perfect. But he’s got some good qualities - his blazing speed, court vision and awareness (by awareness, I mean, he’s very good at knowing where the ball is, and where his man is on defense - very rarely do you see him beaten without the ball), and his shooting - well, that deserves its own paragraph.

TJ’s jump shot was great this year. I have not one single complaint about it. How can I not complain about a PG shooting 43% you ask? Here’s why - I honestly believe it’s all the missed layups and off-balance runners in the lane that are dropping that percentage. I honestly have 100 times more confidence in him shooting a 15 footer than I do when he drives through traffic. He’s a weak finisher around the rim, that’s all there is to say. Whether it’s because he’s so small or so fast or whatever - he needs to improve that. I swear he’d be shooting 48% if he could hit a layup.

Defensively, he was better than I expected in terms of guarding guys one on one on the perimeter. Still not great, but he knows how to use his speed on defense.

Unfortunately, his small size is still an issue when faced with bigger guards like Jason Kidd - they can post him up and beat him for rebounds - or when he’s caught on a switch.

Overall, I’m happy with TJ’s play (and the trade that brought him here) and I hope he settles down and becomes the rock solid point guard I believe he can be.
Grade: B

Andrea Bargnani

What a season for the rookie - he developed far faster than I expected. I thought it would take a year or two for him to get into the flow of things, but he grew month after month after month. And it wasn’t just offense, though that of course is the most noticeable thing. But his defense and positioning improved. His rebounding improved. Heck, even his shot blocking!

And man, can this kid shoot. He has a super quick release, and his range seems limitless. His floor game still needs a little work, sure, but that’ll come. I’ve never seen a rookie with his potential in a Raptors uniform - since Vince.

Now, I’ll grant it’s still early in the guy’s career and there’s always a chance he’s already peaked - but I highly, highly doubt that. This guy is going to be good.
Grade: A

Anthony Parker

What a pickup this was - an absolute steal, getting Parker from Israel. I’d say that next to Bosh this guy was the most important guy on the team this year. Just look at what happened to the Raps when he was hurt! He had a slow start, re-adjusting to the NBA, but once he hit his stride, wow. He can score in a bunch of different ways, he can defend 2s and 3s, he can handle the ball… and his 3-pt shooting from the corner is automatic. And his basketball IQ is off the charts - I feel like I could count the number of mistakes the guy made from January through May on one hand.

Basically, this a guy you don’t build around, this is the guy you use to shore up your foundation and make it solid - he does everything well and never does anything to hurt the team. I’m thrilled we have him for two more years at about 3 mil a year - total bargain.
Grade: A

Jorge Garbajosa

Garbo had a bit of an up and down year. He never really found his shooting stroke for any extended period of time, yet he almost always found a way to contribute when on the floor. He played solid defense and made all kinds of hustle plays, and like Parker, is just a smart ballplayer.

His limited athleticism kept him from getting too many rebounds though, which was a weak spot for the team all year. And there were games I didn’t think he’d ever hit another shot.

Still, even if he was having an awful season - which he certainly wasn’t - no one deserves the kind of injury he suffered against Boston. Most gruesome injury ever in a Raptors uniform.

I hope he can come back strong next year - it was obvious in New Jersey that the Raptors needed a solid body to clog up the paint, one who doesn’t make too many mistakes or panic when the other team goes on a run, and that’s Garbo. Of course, when he comes back, if he wouldn’t mind bringing his jump shot too….
Grade: B

Jose Calderon

The best backup point guard in the NBA, Jose could probably start on 20 other teams (and you’ll find no shortage of observers saying he should start on this team). Amazing to think that last year, as a rookie, the story was “decent backup, can’t shoot the ball.”

Well, this year he shot .521. That would second among point guards, behind Steve Nash’s .532, and a 100th of a point ahead of Tony Parker’s .520. Yeah, that’s some pretty good company there! Granted, he only shot the ball 7 times a game, but still, he scored 8.7 per. Add to that five assists and only 1.4 turnovers in 21 minutes per game - this is a guy who could be making a lot of money when his contract expires after next year.

He’ll never make an all-defensive team and could probably haul in another rebound or two per game at his size, but overall, he is, in my opinion, one of the most important players the Raptors have, and have ever had - you just can’t describe how important it is to have a quality backup point guard. Most teams suffer a huge drop-off when their starter goes out for a rest (look at the Nets!), but not the Raptors. Jose is the new Bobby Jackson.
Grade: A+

Morris Peterson

The longest serving Raptor has probably played his last game in Raptor Red (or purple). Frankly, this is a goddamn shame, as not only is Morris a class guy, but I still don’t see why he’s not the answer for this team’s biggest need - athletic swingman who can slash, score, hit threes and defend 2s and 3s. I guess he could be a little bigger, but otherwise… he still seems like the man, to me.

Unfortunately, the decision isn’t up to me and as such MoPete is 99% gone.

Obviously, any grade I give Mo based on this season should be a little low. After all, all of his numbers were down and he was pretty inconsistent. But I still blame some of it on the coaching staff, for demoting him from starting when he was playing well, for Fred Jones who wasn’t; for giving him wildly inconsistent minutes all year long, then benching him again after he got a start and struggled a little, when Garbo went down. Mo proved it last year - give him consistent minutes, he gives you consistent numbers.

He redeemed himself in the last two playoff games, though - he gave the effort and intensity that the team needed. I was so happy to see his final two games as a Raptor were his best of the year: 13 PPG on 9-13 FGs (3-3 from downtown); 5-6 FTs; 6.5 RPG; and 10 total fouls (because you gotta play with an edge in the playoffs) - in 45 minutes per game. 45 minutes!

And those are just the numbers - they don’t tell you about the defense he played, the charges he took, the hustle plays he made - and they don’t tell you how much he fired up the home crowd in game five. I’ll tell you right now: They wouldn’t have even had a chance to win either game without MoPete.

Based on those two games and his tenure as a Raptor as a whole, Morris Peterson deserves an A. And he’s getting one.

And I’m getting choked up… I’m serious, it’ll be a sad, sad day when Morris signs with someone else.
Grade: A

Rasho Nesterovic

The Raps highest paid player this year did exactly what he was supposed to - clog the lane, guard any real true centers, get rebounds, and knock down the open shot when presented with it. He doesn’t put up great numbers or do anything amazing or spectacular on the court - but he knows his role, does his job, and does it well. 6 points on 54% shooting, 4.5 boards and 1 block in 21 minutes a game, with solid defense on most bigs (he manhandled Dwight Howard when Bosh couldn’t handle him!). You can’t ask for anything more.

He’s also a quiet locker room leader and veteran presence on this young team - the only guy with any real post-season experience going into the playoffs. He’s also known as the locker room joker and every team needs one of those. People may scoff at his big contract - yes, he is overpaid - but as far as I’m concerned, he’s a very important part of this team.
Grade: B+

Joey Graham

The great mystery. No one knows what you’re gonna get from Joey on any given night, as evidenced by his great play down the stretch of the regular season and his disappearing act in the playoffs. I’d say that his subpar work in the postseason may have shown him the door, but who’s gonna want him?

He’s an incredible athlete, with the perfect basketball body, but unfortunately, has absolutely zero basketball IQ. He’s like the reverse Garbo.
Grade: C-

Kris Humphries

Hump had an OK rookie season. He seemed to struggle accepting his role at times - that of hustle and rebound guy - and tried to involve himself too much in the offense. But when he did the things we needed him to - get boards and make the energy plays - he definitely helped the team win.

He also played great down the stretch with Garbo out; unfortunately, like Joey, he kinda disapperared in the playoffs.

If he can accept his role, maybe shed a couple pounds and get a bit quicker, I think he’ll be a solid rotation player next year.
Grade: B-

Juan Dixon

Juan came over for Fred Jones in an inspired Colangelo move and stepped right into the offense - and he was great. But we knew he was a streaky shooter, and one of his cold slumps unfortunately coincided with the end of the season and playoffs. In his defense, he was battling a sore wrist, and not using it as an excuse.

Overall, I’m happy to have him on the team - it’s always good to have a microwave-like scorer on the bench.
Grade: B

Darrick Martin

More coach than player, Martin didn’t do much on the floor this year except jack up the occasional three - including the one keeping the Raptors dubious record of “games with a three pointer” streak alive.

As we all know, Martins’ role is more of a coach than anything, and in that respect, I think he’s a valuable member of the team. Particularly with TJ and Jose. I have no doubt that he helped them develop this season, and I’d be happy to have him back next year, though preferably as an actual coach so we can free up the roster spot.
Grade: B

Pape Sow

Didn’t get a chance to do much, after coming back from the horrible neck injury he suffered in the summer. As much as I like the guy, and appreciate his story, coming over from Senegal… I just don’t think he’s ever going to develop into an NBA player. I think the Raps need to cut ties with him at this point, let him work on his game in the D-League and see if anyone gives him a shot.

No disrespect to ya, Pape. I love ya. But it’s time to move on.
Grade: C

Uros Slokar

Unlike Pape, it seems like there’s still a lot of potential here with Uros. He showed some of it in the Detroit game, and I’d like to keep him around one more year and see what we’ve got. Hopefully, some international and summer league play this year will do him good and he’ll get a chance to prove himself next year.
Grade: Incomplete

Luke Jackson

Signed for next to nothing in the final days of the season, Jackson’s a classic “why not take a chance and see what this guy’s got” pickup. A former lottery pick who’s battled injuries, Jackson showed some flashes in his brief time with the Raps; he’s got a good outside shot and can put the ball on the floor, and he appears to be another high-IQ, knows-where-to-pass the ball type of guy. Hopefully, next year, with a training camp and pre-season games, he’ll learn the offense and tendencies of his teammates even more and be able to contribute.

Unfortunately, he can’t guard a tree, so he’s gonna have to work on the defensive side of his game too if he wants to get more than scrub minutes.
Grade: Incomplete

The 2006-2007 Toronto Raptors

As I’ve said previously, this team exceeded every expectation anyone had for them this year. It’s the most fun I’ve ever had following the Raptors - you never knew what was going to happen next, and besides, they’re all a bunch of quality guys who care about each other, about the team, and about winning.

They share the ball. They always give 100%. They work together. They have the scrappy personality of the coach.

They provided some thrilling moments and amazing games.

They won 47 games, the Atlantic Division and third place in the eastern conference. Unfortunately they came up against a tough, playoff-tested opponent in the first round, but hopefully, going home early left them hungry.

I would give them an A+ - they deserve it - but that would mean there’s no room for improvement next year, when of course there is. They need to improve the defense and rebounding. They should finally crack that 47-win team record and win the Atlantic again. And they should get out of the first round of the playoffs.

All these things and more are possible. And I can’t wait for it to begin.

Overall team grade: A

Tags: Andrea Bargnani, Chris Bosh, Sam Mitchell, TJ Ford, Toronto Raptors

This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 9th, 2007 at 8:16 am and is filed under Coaches, General Raptors, NBA Playoffs, Season Wrap-up.You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.