[19-28] 'Saur Losers | Retired

[hova-]

Good addition in the Diesel. He still has the coolest hook shot in the game (next to Big Z). Also good to see DeRozan delivering. He has improved his shot in real life and should make a step on this lousy Raptors team.

[|)e8*]

Demar Derozan is the man!

[Murat]

Why are the matches go less-scored?
BTW. nba.net >> nba.com

[Martti.]

'Saur Losers Readers Vote DeRozan As Raptors' Summer League MVP

Summer League MVP of the pre-season?

Can't wait for to see what this team does, when you play full-length games.

[Axel The Great]

Why are the matches go less-scored?

Ugh... Lamrock stated this like a page ago and shadowgrin said it to someone else. 5 min quarters!

[rise]

Let's put it in terms that Badger can understand.

5 minutes <<<<<<<<< 12 minutes.


lol

[Fresh8]

i wanna see shaq average 20 points a game

[Lamrock]

Had a really cool recap idea that fell through, so your run of the mill season preview will come tomorrow.

[Justine.]

Nice job ending the pre-season, a neutral record. The Shaq video is kewlll Looking forward to see him dominate.

[Lamrock]

2010-11 Raptors Season Preview

October 27, 2010 - The NBA season is finally upon us, and it looks to be an... interesting one for our Raptors. It is the beginning of the post-Bosh era, but rather than rebuild, management signed yet another white Euro in Linas Kleiza to a long-term deal. Oh, and we signed Shaquille O'Neal. For the third straight Summer, are team has been drastically re-tooled, but this time, we are without our perennial all-star and centerpiece.

Last season, we fielded a slightly below average squad, which failed to make the playoffs or play defense. This last off-season saw us essentially trade Chris Bosh, Reggie Evans, Jose Calderon, Antoine Wright and Rasho Nesterovic for Leandro Barbosa, Kleiza, Shaq, Boris Diaw, Ed Davis, Solomon Alabi and Salim Stoudamire. Yikes.

The new core of the team appears to be DeMar "Heir Canada" DeRozan and Andrea Bargnani. The former enjoyed a solid rookie season, dominant summer league, and solid pre-season. Hate to say it though, but he's not Vince Carter. Bargs' contract extension kicks in this year, and while he's gradually improved, he has not proven to be worth the #1 pick. (Imagine how much better this team would be with Brandon Roy or Rajon Rondo!) Bargnani should figure to be the #1 option on offense, a role he didn't exactly flourish in when Bosh was out last year.

The highest profile addition has to be Shaquille O'Neal. The Big Fossil looked surprisingly spry in the three pre-season games he played, but we'll have to wait and see how the season goes. Shaq didn't play much last year due to fatigue and injuries, but was excellent in the 2008-09 season. If Shaq can play more like the 18-8 all-star and less like the 11-7 washed up fat ass, we could have a steal on our hands. He'll still probably be the best player on this team, and for better or worse, be the leader. If not, he's about to retire anyway!


Miami ain't got nothin' on this big three!
In lieu of Bosh's departure, we significantly bolstered our forward depth, extending Amir Johnson, signing Linas Kleiza, drafting Ed Davis and acquiring Boris Diaw. Amir was one of our best players last year, but his inability to chew gum and not foul at the same time kept him from playing significant minutes. Nonetheless, we now have $34 million invested in a 17.7 minute per game guy. Kleiza is a decent, albeit unnecessary combo forward. Diaw should've been Tyson Chandler. Davis isn'r expected to play much, if at all, but draft correspondent Andrew "The X" Watson expects big things from him.

Manning the point guard position is captain (Jarrett) Jack. Jack's a solid jack-of-all-trades PG who's ability to play average defense earned him the starting nod over Calderon. Backing him up will be shooting guards Marco Belinelli and Leandro Barbosa. I'm not sure how this will work, and we may see Hedo Turkoglu and maybe even Marcus Banks get some burn at the 1. I like Jack, but he's not the future at the PG position, and don't be surprised to see Kyrie Irving here next season. (though Enes Kanter and Donatas Motiejunas probably top the Raps' draft board...)

We, like the Cavaliers, are a team that lost its franchise player, and are being forced to roll with the supporting cast. Shaq should help, but could hurt our lottery chances and is older than dirt. Some are saying that we could make the 8 seed with his addition, but I'm not buying it. It would take career years from both DeMarvelous and Bargnani for us to sniff 35 wins. Either way, lets go Raptors, lets go! *clap clap*

Players Added:
Shaquille O'Neal (free agency)
Leandro Barbosa (trade)
Boris Diaw (trade)
Linas Kleiza (free agency)
Ed Davis (draft)
Salim Stoudamire (free agency)
Solomon Alabi (draft)

Players Lost:
Chris Bosh (free agency)
Jose Calderon (trade)
Reggie Evans (trade)
Antoine Wright (free agency)
Rasho Nesterovic (free agency)
Patrick O'Bryant (free agency)

2009-10 Record: 40-42 | Win Shares Projection: 35-47 | 'Saur Losers Prediction: 30-52

Projected Rotation (last season's stats):

C - Shaquille O'Neal (12.0/6.7/1.5, 17.9 PER, 0.119 WS/48, .565% TS)
PF - Andrea Bargnani (17.2/6.2/1.2, 15.5 PER, 0.072 WS/48, .552% TS)
SF - Hedo Turkoglu (11.3/4.6/4.1, 13.3 PER, 0.071 WS/48, .540% TS)
SG - DeMar DeRozan (8.6/2.9/0.7, 12.5 PER, 0.066 WS/48, .554% TS)
PG - Jarrett Jack (11.4/2.7/5.0, 16.3 PER, 0.102 WS/48, .599% TS)
6 - Leandro Barbosa (9.5/1.6/1.5, 14/0 PER, 0.065 WS/48, .526% TS)
7 - Amir Johnson (6.2.4.8/0.6, 16.7 PER, 0.150 WS/48, .639% TS)
8 - Boris Diaw (11.3/5.2/4.0, 12.8 PER, 0.103 WS/48, .552% TS)
9 - Linas Kleiza (9.9/4.0/0.8, 13.2 PER, 0.095 WS/48, .552% TS)

[Axel The Great]

Good luck with the regular season. You're gonna need it.

[rise]

Drop like six 3s every game with Bargs.

You're gonna need it.

Yes. You will.

[Lamrock]

I'll need luck but I think my team's a little better than my pessimistic blogger persona gives them credit for. Based on win shares per 48, if Barbs has a return to form, Amir plays 30+ MPG and DeRozan improves, we have a playoff team.

As you may notice, there's a new banner for the blog. Will probably alternate between the two.

[Axel The Great]

I noticed. LOL @ Hedo eating pizza! Dammit, now I'm hungry!

[Fresh8]

I reckon you will be 10th in the East and miss the playoffs.

Don't know what to expect from virtual Shaq.

[cavs4872]

You should be able to get a 15/10 season out of The Big Fossil no problem, as long as you give him some touches in the post. I'll be looking forward to seeing some realistic scores in the meantime.

[Lamrock]

Working on a unique new feature for this association. Still working out the kinks, but if I can improve at filming (Xtranormal ain't free, so I gotta record the previews with my phone camera) and people like it, this could become a regular feature. Here's a taste:

phpBB [video]

[Fresh8]

That would be a nice and unique addition to the story if you could add it.

[Lamrock]

Yeah, I was really excited when I found a Raptors blog with videos like these, then deflated when I saw it cost money to publish them. Quality takes a hit doing it this way, but its free, and I think the awkwardness of the voice recognition makes it funny.

[Fresh8]

Definitely if you have the time to do it, I think it would be very cool.

[Lamrock]

Takes arguably less time than a story update.

[Martti.]

Cool update, though I can't understand most of the dialogue nor who are in it.

[Lamrock]

It's Liam Washburn and Billy Knight. Here's another one I whipped up. Warning: It gets vulgar.

phpBB [video]

[dare]

Nice idea man Is that another game? Did you use your own voice?

[Fresh8]

Did you use your own voice?

I think Lamrock would hate himself if he sounded like that in real life. haha