Toronto Raptors Midseason Review: Part One
January 18, 2009
by Brett Fulmore…
For all intents and purposes, Chris Bosh has done his part this season. He started out the campaign in dominant fashion, even finding himself perched near the top of the MVP totem pole after the first few weeks of the year.
But shortly after announcing that he was, in fact, gunning for the award, CB4 came back down to earth and the Dinos began their slide towards the cellar.
Besides that one slip-up, however, Bosh has been the Raptors’ best player so far this season, not too mention the team’s most consistent performer, and it’s not even close in either category. He still has his shortcomings—mainly a reliance on his jumper at times and struggles on the defensive end—but there’s no questioning Bosh’s place among the elite power forwards of the league. Now he just needs some more help.
Grade: A
If Jamario Moon is your starting small forward, you are not a good team.
I haven’t figured out if starting Moon is what officially takes you to bad team status, or it’s the other way around and only the most terrible of squads would even consider it.
It’s kind of like the chicken and the egg argument, but believe me when I say, If Jamario Moon is your starting small forward, you are not a good team.
Moon has actually played better since a putrid start by getting back to some of the things that let him stick around last year in the first place (rebounding, hustle plays, blocking shots), but watching him hoist three-pointers with 16 seconds left on the shot clock is starting to give me an ulcer.
Hey Jamario, there’s a reason that there’s no one within 10 feet of you when you are jacking up those shots—they know you won’t make it. Seriously, next time you are watching a Raps game, check out what Moon’s man will do who when he rises up for a three.
He runs directly to the front of the rim with an “I can’t believe he shot another one” look on his face.
I believe there’s a place in the league for guys like Moon, but not in the starting lineup of a team who has serious playoff aspirations.
Grade: C
Jake Voshkul
A late addition the Raps, Voshkul is already closing in on Primoz Brezec’s record for “Most over-excited towel waves by a heavy-footed white center who never leaves the bench” award. He’s only been on the team for two weeks!
In all seriousness, Voshkul is one of the only Raptors who seems to give a crap on a night to night basis, which is equally depressing and exciting, since it’s a tell-tale sign that we’ll end up with more ping pong balls than your Aunt Mertle’s bingo game.
Grade: B
Jose Calderon
One point that we heard a lot of in this past summer’s “Ford versus Calderon” debate was that Jose would end up being a much more durable player because of T.J’s constant battle with injuries.
As we approach the midway point of the season, Calderon has missed nearly a quarter of the Raptor’s games with a sore hamstring, and has actually played in less contests than Ford has in Indiana.
I understand we’re looking at a small sample size, but it’s worth mentioning.
Is Calderon built to log 40 minutes per game?
His defensive deficiencies were definitely exposed as his playing time grew, as I can’t count how many times I’ve seen Calderon’s man end up at the rim for an uncontested layup while Jose wanders around the upper concourse of the arena.
His gifts on the offensive end have been well-documented, with his 8.5 assists per game ranking him fourth in the association, but there are way too many nights when Calderon’s contribution on one end is completely washed out by his performance on the opposite side of the court.
Grade: C+
Jermaine O’Neal
For me, Jermaine O’Neal has been the biggest disappointment at the midway point of the year.