Raptors Roster Overhaul Success!

Atlantic Division Leader, 4th place Eastern Conference, 6-1 record on the month of February, that said it’s hard to ignore I’m talking about Those Raptors, not including last month’s team but mostly individual achievements , namely those Monthly Awards that the Raptors receive garnering 3 awards setting up a franchise history and NBAs’.

With a 2-8 start the team suffered early in this season, already fans are predicting the same result as last seasons 27-55 record, I mean, come on, Raptors fans were all pumped up , I know I was, all this talk before the season started , Rebuilding the Team from the ground up, it took a major roster overhaul bringing in 9 new faces. They started with the office, hiring NBA Executive of the Year 2005. Bryan Colangelo. which many fans everywhere breathe a sigh of relief, to know that Raptors franchise is in good hands what’s more assuring than to look at the man’s past and achievements, but mostly what’s etch on people’s minds, Is what the guy did to the Phoenix Suns. With Colangelo as President and General Manager, rebuilding was on it’s way.

The Roster make-over. With Chris Bosh now the face of the franchise after signing a multi-year deal. Heads are now turned on the rest of the team, where Bosh will need a supporting cast,with the exemption of Morris Peterson, Charlie Villanueva having a All-Star Rookie season it’s hard to disregard the fact that Raptors now have 2 player franchise in the works, even Colangelo made a brief press conference before the NBA draft, that Charlie V is part of the rebuilding process. Now, come to think of it, he was, because he was traded,.hmm made sense?Charlie V going to Milwaukee we were finally given a true starting point guard in TJ Ford, which surprisingly was a great combination with back-up PG Jose Calderon. And thus the departure of  Mike James, a great player but not really a natural point guard, the guy’s PointsPerGame AVG. was proof of it, for the guy was a Shooting Guard, which literally means shoots the ball, pass if necessary. Don’t get me wrong I like him, but then again not beneficial on Colangelo plans. The fans loved Charlie V, but as they say Business is Business, the same can be said on Matt Bonner, now, he was a crowd favorite they even nicknamed him after the Toronto’s Transit streetcars , “The Red Rocket”, the reason, he rides public transportation regularly. thus fans loving he’s down to earth personality. To trade him was painful but we had a legitimate Center for it, and from a former NBA champs Spurs none the less, Rasho Nesterovic gave the team the veteran experience and  the needed Big Guy presence in the middle. Unlike Rafael Araujo, some even call the Biggest blunder of the late Rob Bobcock. Araujo didn’t even came close to the talent of being in a 1st round draft. Oooh harsh huh? I’m sorry but the guy is what he is, can do what he can do, and bad at it too. so no loss there. Now for Free Agency we got the Highlight Reel , Show Stopper in the form of Fred Jones although he did well on the 1st 2 months of the season as of late he isn’t doing well on Sam Mitchell’s rotation, too bad, I need my dosage of high flying dunks. a Win isn’t bad either.  then signed Kris Humphries which came in with the mix, another Power Forward that brings in the energy coming off the bench along with ever improving Joey Graham and the Euroleague MVP Anthony Parker. and rookies like the Slovenian Uros Slokar , Spains’ Jorge Garbajosa and P.J. Tucker (but later dealt to NBDL), Re-signing the veteran Darrick Martin to give this young squad some needed advice and encouragement. Don’t forget Pape Sow, crowd favorite in the absence of Bonner.Now the final piece, which is Colangelo’s legacy at the moment, is his 1st Overall Draft pick Andrea Bargnani, his 1st month was all disappointing, actually was expected, factors like young, team-issue, and new to the league rules where the usual culprit when somebody new comes along but turned out to be the real reason after all, winning the Rookie of the Month Award on January after an unimpressive start of the season. And the team responded to the criticism of the public with the guidance of it’s Coaches and Staff, especially Sam Mitchell, lots of non-believer that he can deliver, and give the Raptors franchise a place in NBA’s elite teams or let alone even a contender. A 2-8 start then wins Coach of the Month for January goes 29-24 before the All-star break says a lot on improvement wouldn’t you say so?

So are the Raptors that improved now? Yes, considering the circumstances that  9 players were brought in, you’d have to consider the biggest factor getting them to gel, work as a team. which amazingly took a few months. What’s fascinating is that  the team Stats and style of playing are now being compared to such teams like the Suns and other Western teams elites, playing unselfish basketball has been good to the team and brought them Win so far. with 5 players averaging double figures every night you know those assist the 2 best point guards  are distributing are going to the right men at the right time.  Now don’t go saying “Well the East is horrible right now, with all the injuries and stuff”. It still means the Raptors as one of the young teams both in age and team chemistry is consistently winnning is Impressive.

Now everything in place Colangelo and his vision now in the works, the Raptors are now buying a place in the Playoffs which had eluded them since 2001-2002 season. I know it’s too early but and all the fans are now seeing the bigger picture of even entering the Eastern Conference Finals, with the way  they’re playing,it has build up such confidence from the fans. I may say so myself, I’m in.