The Raptors After 20 Games

01-02: 12-8
02-03: 7-13
03-04: 12-8
04-05: 7-13
05-06: 3-17
06-07: 7-13
07-08: 10-10

Considering the two seasons before this they were a combined 10-30 after 20 games each, we can't be too hard on a 10-10 record. Especially when you look at the state of the Eastern Conference these days, where there are only three teams sporting above .500 records as of Sunday morning. What is a cause for concern though, is injuries. Forget Charlotte, the Raptors need Bosh and Bargnani back ASAP. If one of them is healthy, they will be okay for a game or two, but they need both bigs back together, because it is putting far too much pressure on Hump, Rasho, and Baston. Moon and Graham can play big on occasion, depending on matchups, but with Garbo already out, the Raptors are thin up front. With all that being said, I think the Raptors should be happy with a .500 record at the end of 2007, and then make a push in the new year again.

Raptors players vs. the rest of the NBA
- Jamario Moon has cracked the top 20 in blocks per game at 1.7
- Calderon is 9th in the league in assists at 7.7 a game [in 26 mins]
- Ford is 12th in the league in assists at 6.9 a game [in 26 mins]
- Ford is tied for 10th in the league in FT% at 90%
- Bosh is 11th in the league in FT attempts, averaging 7.5 attempts a game [and 11th in the league in FT makes, making 6.6 of the 7.5 for an 87.6 success rate]
- The Raptors have FOUR players in the top 16 in the league in 3FG%:
- 1st. Kapono. 51.7%
- 6th. Parker. 49.3%
- 12th. Bargnani. 45.2%
- 16th. Delfino. 44.7%

Raptors leaders
- Bosh is leading the team in points with 18.8 a game
- Moon is leading the team in blocks at 1.7 a game
- Delfino is leading the team in steals with 1.2 a game
- Calderon is leading the team in assists at 7.7 a game
- Bosh is leading the team in rebounds at 7.9 [Moon hot on his heels with 7.6]

Raptors vs. the other teams
- The Raptors are right in the middle of the league [15th] in ppg at 99.2, and are 10th best in the league by giving up 96.9 ppg.
- Even with Moon's block party, the Raptors only average 3.9 blocks a game [Josh Smith averages 3.6 a game himself], and sit tied for 3rd worse in the league
- The Raptors are 4th best in the league at taking care of the ball, averaging only 12.2 turnovers a game
- The Raptors are 7th in the league in assists, averaging 23 a game
- Not surprisingly, they sit in the bottom third in the league in rebounds per game
- Once again, the Raptors are great when they're at the line [2nd in the league], but never get there [dead last in attempts]
- The Raptors lead in the league in 3 point percentage, shooting 43.7% as a team, but are right in the middle of the league in FG%, at 45.4 percent.

Conclusion
- Bosh's line of 18.8 and 7.9 is not what was expected from the all star, but he was showing signs of turning it around before he got injured. I think, by the end of the year, he should be back up to 23 and 9, maybe 10.
- Bargnani is averaging 12 points and almost 5 boards a game. To be fair though, he's only playing 25 minutes a game. To be more fair though, he would be playing more if he could stay out of foul trouble.
- Jamario Speedwagon is filling up the statsheet nicely: 8.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.7 blocks, and 1.1 steals. If only he stopped shooting 3's and attacked the rim [26% from three, only 1.1 attempts a game from the FT line]
- Delfino and Moon have both played great, and Parker is rounding into last years form, but I wish we saw more of Jason Kapono. He is shooting over 50% from the field and from three, but is averaging less than 23 minutes a game.

Player of the Year so far....
I'm going to cop out and give it to no one. Because of injuries, and depth, no Raptors really plays enough time to stand out on the statsheet. If I had to pick the best player in the last 10 games or so, it'd be Calderon.