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NLL Insider - Team by Team: Toronto Raptors

by vt, updated on Tuesday, January 10 2012, 10:56 pm EST

Team by Team: Toronto Raptors
2010-2011 Finish: 49-33

What went well

One year now separated the Toronto Raptors between the present and their glorious championship run. GM Juvenile kept most of his young core intact, but lost to the Sixers in the first round of the playoffs. It was time for the team to reclaim its glory.

The offseason began with the Raps dodging a major bullet, sending nearly-crippled guard Brandon Roy and big man Brendan Haywood to the new Champs Memphis for Chris Bosh and Jose Calderon. This was a huge move for the Raptors, one that sent ripples across the NLL community. Juvenile did a little more fine-tuning, sending Jason Kapono to the Jazz for Chris Wilcox and selling off Joe Smith to the Celtics. Another big move came as the team unceremoniously dumped Kenyon Martin, no longer necessary with the acquisition of Bosh. Juvenile also brought in a veteran presence in Tracy McGrady to mentor his young players.

Without Roy, the team didn't have a true shooting guard, but that didn't stop them from playing well. Another big trade came a few weeks into the season when the Raps sent the always injured Tyrus Thomas, along with Pape Sy and Antoine Wright out, getting Brad Miller in return. The team would also acquire Nick Collison for Kyle Korver and Dexter Pittman and D.J. White for Mario Chalmers before the season would end.

In the first round of the playoffs, the Raptors juggernaut made short work of Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavs sweeping them in four. Kevin Durant and Bosh were on fire, averaging more than 20 ppg each while Andrew Bynum played admirably. Would it be the Raptors year again?

What went bad

Unfortunately, the Raps met up with the Sixers in the next round and lost four to two. Durant played well (26ppg), but Bosh couldn't replicate his numbers from the Cleveland series. Manu Ginobili and Josh Smith led a balanced Sixers attack that ultimately sunk the Raptors.


Looking to the future

Although the Raptors' offseason moves will be chronicled in next year's Team by Team, Durant and Juvenile will look to make another title run. But Durant expected to make a huge extension, how can he keep the team together and avoid dipping too horribly into lux tax territory? Find out next year.

Archive

· NLL Radio: Five Five Five

· Team by Team: Toronto Raptors

· Team by Team: San Antonio Spurs

· NLL Radio: Trades! Pt. 2!

· NLL Radio: Trades! Pt. 1!

· Team by Team: Sacramento Kings

· Team by Team: Portland Trailblazers

· Team by Team: Phoenix Suns

· Team by Team: Philadelphia 76ers

· Team by Team: Orlando Magic

 

 

 

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