No bold predictions, no promises of reaching the playoffs. There is instead a quiet sense of optimism around the Toronto Raptors heading into the season.
A year after general manager Bryan Colangelo preached patience with a young, building team that was all about gaining experience, the Raptors made several key moves in the offseason in hopes of significantly improving the team.
Colangelo added three potential starters to the roster in point guard Kyle Lowry, Lithuanian center Jonas Valanciunas and athletic swingman Landry Fields, while losing Jerryd Bayless and James Johnson.
“There’s that feeling there could be something special about this group, but time will tell,” Colangelo said.
The Raptors, who open the season at home tomorrow against Indiana, finished 23-43 last year in a lockout-shortened season with low expectations. Few expect them to improve all that much this year — something second-year coach Dwane Casey said may work in his young squad’s favor.
“With that lack of respect, that should get us motivated to come into this gym each and every day to bust our tails.” Casey said. “That right there tells us how much lack of respect the league has for us, and how much we have to continue to work to perform every day we walk on the court.”
Casey is a big reason for Toronto’s optimism. The former Dallas Mavericks assistant took a team that was at the bottom of the league in defense to finish in the top half last season.
However, they remained in the bottom third in offensive stats — something Casey focused on with a benefit of a full training camp this season.
“The numbers are staggering what happened last year [defensively], but with respect to the pace, the offense, offensive efficiency, offensive production, we talked a lot this offseason about how we’re going to improve that,” Colangelo said.
There has not been a clear face of the franchise since Chris Bosh patrolled the floor and Vince Carter before him.
The team will look to center Andrea Bargnani to provide a good chunk of its scoring. Bargnani was having a breakout season last year — and showed an uncharacteristic enthusiasm for defense — before a calf injury cost the team’s leading scorer 35 games. The Raptors’ season unraveled right along with him.
Bargnani and Valanciunas could make a formidable front court. The Raptors selected Valanciunas with their No. 5 pick in last year’s draft, leaving him in Lithuania for a year of development. The 20-year-old, touted as the future of the franchise, definitely gives Raptors fans something to be excited about — rare athleticism for a big man, coupled with a puppy-dog enthusiasm for the game.
Acquired from the Houston Rockets after a failed bid to land Canadian star Steve Nash, Lowry is expected to add heart and hustle to a Toronto team that have not had enough of either in recent seasons. The 26-year-old, a vocal leader who will push his teammates, is expected to start ahead of veteran Jose Calderon, who will lead the second unit as one of the better backup point guards in the league.
Fields has been touted as Toronto’s so-called “glue guy.” Out of Toronto’s returning players, athletic swingman DeMar DeRozan has polished his post-up game and along with Bargnani, will be a focal point of Toronto’s offense.
“DeMar’s one of the most talented wings in the league and he’s learning every day to be efficient,” Casey said. “He understands that, he’s getting to the foul line, doing what we ask him to do, going in the low post.”
Toronto’s three new starters have bumped players to the bench, which gives the Raptors more depth. Calderon, Alan Anderson, Linas Kleiza, Amir Johnson and Ed Davis averaged 24 starts last year.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely