Toronto Raptors '97-98

The Raptors' Damon Stoudamire and Walt Williams are bombers, two guys who should be able to launch from the redrawn line without a major drop in their percentage. Doug Christie, who picked up a giant contract after last season, is the one guy who will probably feel the longer line the most. Christie came into the league as a slasher, but converted to a gunner when he realized that he could do it to save his career. It worked and, if he combines his newfound deep shot with his old abilities, he could become a very good player.

The Raptors seem to be hoping that the same will happen with high school grad and NBA draftee, Tracy McGrady. Every report compares him to Scottie Pippen, apparently because he looks like Pippen, not because he plays defense like Pippen. Pippen, however, was another guy who benefitted from the close three point line. If McGrady is like Pippen in that way, his timing is not very good.

McGrady should actually not be a story this year. If he is, the Raptors are in trouble because they have several better players who should contribute to the success of the team.

Marcus Camby came close to being a rare rookie that has a net win percentage of over 50%. A couple of bad games at the end of the season hurt him. Camby always impressed me as someone who could contribute defensively by scaring people out of the middle. He did that a bit last year, but his thin frame prevented him from getting the defensive boards that would have helped affirm him as a defensive player to build around.

Fortunately, Popeye Jones took up some of the slack on the glass, but is such a liability in most other aspects that he should not be on the court except as a sub. Overall, the Raptors were worse than the league average defensively, so they need some help, but Jones' offense also helped the team be less than average offensively.

The other option among the big men is Sharone Wright, who has played well below expectations since entering the league. As a fine shotblocker in college, he has been hindered by back problems that limit his aggressiveness in the post. There are now serious questions, after three years in the league, whether he can reach his potential.

The main claim to fame on the Raptors is point guard Stoudamire, who I have historically picked on because he's been overrated. Stoudamire is not a great point guard, but another of the many that shoot a bit too much and don't shoot it very well. His shooting actually declined substantially last year because defenses realized that it was his favorite thing to do. Still, by making so many of the threes and being in control of the ball so much, he is a scary player to good teams. His high risk game cost them a lot of games that they should have won, but it also helped them become one of only four teams to beat Chicago, Utah, and Miami. It is the kind of game that makes a franchise good, but not great.

Williams and Christie were good free agent pickups last year who contributed almost identical games offensively. Christie played defense more avidly than the lackadaisical Williams. These guys are ideally at the same off guard position, but due to the weak frontcourt will work the swing positions. It will hurt the defense, particularly if Camby can't pick it up, but they don't have much choice.

With young teams like the Raptors, expectations are very volatile. Just a few people with overly high expectations can force the team to question itself rather than working on improving. This is one of the most uncertain predictions I make: 36 wins and still out of the playoffs.