Raptor Potential

     This is a post about Raptor`s potential but I still have to start off with the franchise man, Chris Bosh. He has been unstoppable all year and he`s putting up some huge numbers on very efficient shooting percentages. Not only can the guy score at will, but now with the experience and growing maturity he`s able to find the open man off the double team and the other role players are making plays. Andrea Bargnani is in my opinion the top candidate for the most improved player award because he`s being consistent every game and he`s looking to attack the gaps instead of settling for jumpers. The Raptors point guard situation has never looked better either. Jarrett Jack and Jose Calderon are making great decisions with the ball as usual but they are also attacking the hoop when they get the chance. If you play them for the pass they will just score on you. Turkoglu`s starting to come into his rhythm as of late as well. He`s been shooting the ball extremely well and making key buckets when they need a hoop. He hit a couple of clutch free-throws against the Lakers too which led them to win it by 1. In my opinion the key to the success of the Raptors has been the bench. The main guys are always going to get the job done but they need help. It has been guys like Sonny Weems, Antoine Wright and Amir Johnson, as well as Jose Calderon who have been bringing energy off the bench.

     Antoine Wright has averaged around 12 points per game in the last 5 games which was huge because Turkoglu and Derozan were out a few games. Sonny Weems is becoming more confident with his mid-range game and last night against Philly he even hit a three. He`s not known for 3-point shooting but he was open and he was feeling it. Amir Johnson is just working hard, he’s altering a lot of shots on defense and most of his buckets he gets on offense are second chance points or tough moves to the rim. Toronto is really establishing themselves as one of the top teams in the East and they have made a big push before the all-star break. I look for them to continue to play well in the remainder of the season. If Atlanta or Orlando or maybe even Boston started to slip I could see the Raptors possibly moving up to the 4th spot. They are a long way from that right now but if they continue to play as a team and play with grit on the defensive end it is definitely a possibility.