TORONTO — The 2007-08 Toronto Raptors will hit the floor for the first time Saturday evening not long after their lush Boeing 757 (the $46-million bird was rented from Mark Cuban and the Dallas Mavericks) touches down in Italy and they head to work at the facilities provided by Benetton Treviso before heading for Rome and then Madrid.
Friday, the Raptors not already in Europe gathered for media day, where many questions were asked. But there are really only five questions that count as the Raptors set out to prove that their 47-35 performance last year is a starting point rather than a high point.
1. Jose or T.J? This was not a question a year ago when Ford was awarded a three year, $24.5-million (U.S.) contract (with a player option for a fourth season) and the starting point guard job. But while Ford put up career highs in points (14.0 per game) and assists (7.9, sixth in the NBA) Calderon averaged 13.3 points and 8.8 assists as a starter in games when Ford was hurt. The season finished with Ford looking less than pleased while on the bench during the late moments of the fourth quarter of the Raptors' season-ending loss to New Jersey in the first round of the playoffs. Calderon was an all-star and most valuable player candidate playing for Spain at the European championship and said last week that he hopes to make head coach Sam Mitchell's decision "more difficult." Told of Calderon's comment Ford smiled, as if to say: "Let the [training camp] games begin."
2. How is Bosh's left foot? Shudders were felt around Raptorland when franchise cornerstone and NBA all-star Chris Bosh left Team USA's training camp in Las Vegas complaining of soreness in his heel, a problem that surfaced in training camp last year. Mitchell said yesterday that while the heel didn't cause his star to miss many games (Bosh missed 13 games with a knee injury that he said was related to his heel problem) it did force him out of a lot practices. Not so this year. "I'm not going to lie and say it's 100 per cent, but it's a lot better than last year," said Bosh, who may get some MVP consideration if the Raptors surge and he builds on the 22.6 and 10.7 line he put up last season. "I'm looking forward to it going away, leaving me alone," Bosh said of his foot problem. "I'm staying on top of it and treating it with respect to prevent it from happening."
3. Are the Raptors better? Because the Atlantic Division will be: It was a proud moment for the franchise that night in April when the banner for the Atlantic Division title was raised at the Air Canada Centre. This time the Raptors might really have to earn it. The Boston Celtics, injury-ravaged and woeful last year, made the biggest splash of the off-season, adding Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett and James Posey. New Jersey should start the season healthy. The Knicks added Zach Randolph and got rid of Steve Francis, which can only help; the 76ers finished 19-14 from February 1st on as they organized themselves after the Allen Iverson trade. "I love it," said Bosh of the improvements made by Boston and other teams. "It gives the Eastern Conference and the Atlantic Division in particular a lot more prestige. I want people to be like, they won the Atlantic, they're serious."
4. What will Jason Kapono do? He's the Raptors' prize free-agent signing, and there is no doubt why: He led the NBA in 3-point shooting last season playing for Miami and transforms the Raptors from a "good shooting team to a great shooting team," according to Raptors president Bryan Colangelo. Can Kapono shoot 51.4 per cent from beyond the arc — the mark he led the NBA with last season — in a lineup that doesn't feature Shaquille O'Neal and Dwyane Wade? Will his added marksmanship make up for the Raptors' weakness (the Raptors snared only 22.2 per cent of their own misses, worst in the NBA) on the glass? Certainly Colangelo hopes so. "When you shoot the ball better, there are fewer rebounds to get."
5. Too many players, not enough minutes? Since it became apparent that Morris Peterson's days as a Raptor were numbered, Colangelo has brought in a slew of bodies to fill the gap. Assuming Anthony Parker starts, who among Carlos Delfino, Juan Dixon, Luke Jackson, Joey Graham and Kapono will grab the available minutes at the three spot and backing up both wing positions? What about the starting centre spot — does it go to Andrea Bargnani or a fit and motivated Rasho Nesterovic? Who is the energizing big man off the bench, Kris Humphries or newcomer Maceo Baston? It promises to be a competitive camp, but that's the players' problem, says Mitchell. "It's not my job to keep the players happy," he said. "It's the players' job to keep the coach happy. … I'd like to play 10 guys, but if guys aren't playing [well], I won't. It's on them."
