Raptors Deserve More Praise
The Toronto Raptors have Earned Respect for their Work this Season
The Toronto Raptors are one of the most exciting and successful teams in the NBA this year, yet are still underrated by fans and networks.
The Toronto Raptors are the most underrated team in the NBA. They win often and the reason they do is because of teamwork, dedication and commitment. They have only one permanent All-Star, Chris Bosh, and a supporting cast that if on any other team would not put up the impressive stats they do now.
Carlos "Miami Vice" Delfino (got to love the nickname), since coming to the Raptors has seen an increase in playing minutes, points per game and rebounds per game. Jamario "Apollo 33" Moon, one of the most uplifting rags-to-riches stories in basketball (he should have his own movie, and no Will Ferrell playing Jackie Moon in Semi-Pro doesn't count) has seen an immense increase in playing time, points per game and rebounds per game from his D-League (the NBA's developmental league) days.
Most players, well everyone before Moon, see a decrease in stats when making the switch; the NBA is obviously much more challenging than the D-League. Moon is the exception, a talented player and a monstrous dunker, some of the things he does are just flat-out scary; in his pre-dunk competition video, he dunks from behind the free-throw line. Yeah you read that right. Pop your jaw back into place.
Jose Calderon, one of the most underrated players in the NBA, has the number one assists-per-turnover ratio, the best free-throw percentage in the league and the fifth highest assist per game average. What else does he have to do to get into that All-Star game? Oh, and did I mention he's started only 42 of 56 games and averages a mere 32 of 48 minutes? Ridiculous.
The bottom line is, there is something about the Raptors that makes average players, great. Many would argue it has been the ingenious management of Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo.
Colangelo, since joining the Raptors in time for the 06/07 season has become one of the most beloved men in Toronto. A stark contrast to the Maple Leafs' recently-fired GM John Ferguson Jr., comparisons were frequently drawn between the two and Colangelo was constantly and consistently the winner. He, in one year, took a team that its own fans referred to as the "Craptors," a team that won only 27 of 82 games, and led them to a 47-win season and a division championship. That's magical.
This season, the Raptors are picking up the pace after the All-Star break, closing in on third-place in the Eastern Conference. If the Raptors do pry away that coveted third-place spot from the Orlando Magic, they would most likely play a below-.500 team in the playoffs, possibly a rematch against the New Jersey Nets. Warning to Vince Carter: invest in a pair of earplugs, extra thick.
An easier playoff opponent would help to raise the team's confidence, after all only two of their players have previously won a championship. Franchise player Chris Bosh could really use the practice; he had a less than dazzling performance in last year's series versus the Nets. It's his job to lead the team and if the Raptors are going to have any shot this year, it'll be based on his performance.
Whether the Raptors are successful in this season's playoffs or not, this team's success isn't a fluke. These Raptors are here to stay.
Related Articles:
The NBA's Most Underrated: Part 1
The NBA's Most Underrated: Part 2
