* A huge thanks to Dan and Brent over at Athleon Sports for hooking Hoops Addict up with their Exportable Playbook Maker. It’s a great tool that I’ll be using in my Game Notes this season to explain different plays NBA teams are running as well as with the elementary school basketball team I coach.

* I’m looking forward to meeting Brian McCormick this Tuesday at the Raptors game. After a couple years of talking through emails and a few phone calls it will be nice to finally talk face-to-face with one of my favourite basketball writers and trainers. He’s in town to talk with some members of the Toronto Raptors brain trust so I’ll be sure to share the links to his work once he has it online.

* For all the stat heads out there is a new site called Basketball Statistics that’s worth checking out. Joe Nichols dropped me an email telling me about his site and I’ll be using his Composite Score Stats in my Game Notes this season.

* The Big Lead continued their long standing tradition of classic interviews by posting a gem with Gene Wojciechowski.

* J.E. Skeets wrote a highly entertaining Toronto Raptors Season Preview for Ball Don’t Lie. Speaking of Skeets, I’ve heard through the grapevine that The Basketball Jones Podcast will be shifting to a new format this season that I can’t wait to see.

* FanHouse has an entertaining video clip of Chris Bosh dancing to the new Busta Rhymes song.

* I received an interesting email from an Aneheim Arsenal rep informing me that the NBA Development League’s 14 teams will be featured in this years version of NBA 09 The Inside. Here’s a brief explanation from the press release I was sent explained the game, “Will give fans the chance to experience the journeys of players who seek to transition from the NBA D-League to the biggest stage of the NBA. As part of NBA 09 The Inside’s new PS3 feature, “The Life,” fans will have an unprecedented experience to actually control the on- and off-the-court journeys of three players in their quest to go from the NBA D-League to the NBA. Game players can also take part in the annual NBA D-League Showcase, All-Star Game, and Playoffs and Finals.”

* A big thanks to Kristen from adidas for sending me some screen grabs for Team Signature Commander and Creater shoes that Tim Duncan and Dwight Howard will be wearing this season.

* I also want to thank All Balls Don’t Bounce for posting a picture of me during my D-League tryout Rest assured that once I’m back to full strength I’m taking him up on his offer to a Battle of the Bloggers on the court.

.* Sac Town Royalty has a hilarious Photoshop picture of Mikki Moore.

* If you want a way to waste some time at work next week check out wRECK Sports.

North Carolina’s men’s basketball team had a remarkable year last season. The team ultimately did not achieve its goal of a national title, but its success laid the foundation for massive expectations for the season ahead for the Tar Heels. Unlike last year, this season is not one filled with potential and possibility, but instead firm, lofty expectations and demands. This season, absolutely nothing short of a national title will satisfy the fans, players and coaching staff in Chapel Hill.

When fans of North Carolina look back to last season, they inevitably deem it a painful collapse and a aching memory. While most would not be so brash as to call the season a failure, the humiliating loss they suffered at the hands of Kansas last March in the National Semi-finals is still a fresh wound.

It might be expected that the loss has come to overshadow the amazing comeback UNC put forth to get itself back in the game. Since the comeback was all for not there is little value in mythologizing it. That said, it is a shame that the defeat (as painful and authoritative as it was) obscured a remarkable season given that Roy William’s team won a school-record 36 games while dealing with numerous injuries to key players.

Tar Heel fans have monumental expectations this year and with good reason. The team returns 95 percent of last season’s scoring and did not lose a single major contributor for a rotation that has made it to two straight Elite Eights and a Final Four. They return the National Player of the Year and have a banner freshman class loaded with All-American talent.

With the deck stacked so heavily in their favor, its “win-it-all or bust”.

Which is exactly how the team’s leader Tyler Hansbrough would want it. Arguably the most intense player in basketball (college or pro), no one in the game gets more results from less natural talent than UNC’s leading scorer and rebounder (22.6 ppg 10.2 rpg). By deciding to finish his college eligibility, Hansbrough immediately assured that UNC would be the favourite in every game this year.

Hansbrough has dominated the ACC for three years now and there appears to be no one in the conference that can put a body on him in the deep post. Even more important than his offensive contribution is the fact that he is the most fearless big man in college basketball on the defensive end. His lack of quickness and leaping ability mean that his pro prospects do not project well, so he will certainly look to exit Chapel Hill on top to improve his draft stock.

To be sure though, Hansbrough is not alone. Joining him are fellow stars Wayne Ellington and Ty Lawson, both of whom declared for the NBA Draft and were likely late-first round prospects before they elected to return to school. Lawson may be the fastest guard in the college game and is an excellent on-ball defender. He excels at driving-and-dishing and pairs fabulously with Ellington, who uses those kick-out passes to shot over 40% from beyond the arc.

Key veterans Danny Green, Deon Thompson and Marcus Ginyard also return for Carolina, as does sophomore standout Alex Stephenson. What’s more, the talent stockpiled on Coach Williams’ bench continues to be strong. Superstar recruit Larry Drew joins to bolster the team’s backcourt depth, as do McDonald’s All-Americans Ed Davis and Tyler Zeller who will help solidify their frontcourt.

Given all the talent on his roster, Williams two biggest problems will most likely be finding playing time for everyone and not allowing the team to fold under the massive expectations that will be placed on it.

With arguably the best starting five in college basketball, each of their games will hold the special weight of potential perfection. Many analysts and pundits believe the team has a realistic shot at going undefeated.

Some point out the high level of parity in today’s college game as proof against UNC’s chances to go without a loss. Mid-major teams and conference powers now stand on common ground, so there will be fewer easy wins on their schedule. Still though, the Tar Heels do not face a particularly difficult out of conference schedule outside of games against Michigan State and Notre Dame.

It is fair to say then that the team has a slim but legitimate chance at perfection especially since the ACC is down this season outside of Duke and Wake Forest. Carolina has not just the talent, but experience, to make such a run.

Perfect or otherwise, UNC needs merely to win its last game this year to make it a success. That of course would be a National Championship. There are a good deal of defenses UNC can take if they fail in this account. More talented teams have fallen short of a title. Teams with stronger chemistry and more history together have failed in the past.

But excuses will have no place on Tobacco Road. Not this season, not with this team.

Photo Credit: Icon Sports Media

When I heard the news that Allan Houston was attempting a comeback to the NBA and would be in Toronto early in the preseason,  I was excited about the chance to talk with him about his attempt to return to the NBA. Normally my only chance to snag interviews happens before games, however after the game last night I took a risk and approached him for a quick interview and he was gracious enough to provide me with some of his time despite not suiting up due to an issue with his quad. It was a classy move by a veteran player that I appreciated because he didn’t need to give his time to a reporter after he didn’t even suit up for the game.

There have been times over the past year where meeting a player has squashed the perception I had of them, however after spending some time with Allan Houston I gained an even greater appreciation for his professionalism and passion for the game of basketball.

Ryan McNeill: It’s been a couple of years since you’ve been in training camp with the Knicks. How does it feel to be back?
Allan Houston: It feels great to be back with the Knicks. My bodies still getting used to two-a-days but it feels great. It’s great to be back and to be able to contribute however I can. I don’t take being back for granted.

McNeill: Why did you chose to return to the NBA after three seasons away?
Houston: When I retired it happened so quickly, so when I started feeling good again I wanted to return to playing. Last year the timing was really bad. This year I just felt deep down it was something I was supposed to be doing. I just felt led to do this. It’s a different stage for me, it’s a different stage for the organization. At the same time, it’s a big commitment. I’m committed to the game and this organization. You look at something you can maybe pass down. Maybe I can share something I’ve experience on or off the court with these guys. Hopefully I can provide this team with a veteran presence that will be good for these guys. Ultimately, people ask me why I’m doing this and it’s because I love the game. The game has been so good to me and I figure why not (return) if I can still play.

McNeill: It sounds like you have a desire to mentor the other guys in this locker room. If for some reason you aren’t able to make the Knicks opening night roster, would you want to stay this season in a role as an advisor?
Houston: I’ve been so blessed to make it this far by not even looking past training camp…

McNeill: I’m sorry…
Houston: No, it’s okay. I understand what you’re saying. I just try to take it one day at a time. When that time comes I will think further about it but right now I’m focused on what I’ll be able to do on the court. I’ve made a physical commitment. My goal right now is to be in uniform and be able to contribute however I can.

McNeill: Do you plan to suit up for the Knicks next preseason game?
Houston: Probably. I want to rest the quad until I can function the way I can the presence on the court I want to be. I’m at the stage in my career where if I won’t get out there unless I can do the things I want to do. I’m just taking it one day at a time but most likely (I’ll play in the next game).

McNeill: Thanks for your time and good luck with your comeback attempt.
Houston: Thanks, I appreciate it.

Photo Credit: Icon Sports Media

* Before the game I asked Sam Mitchell for his thoughts on Andrea Bargnani’s game last night against Cleveland where he scored an impressive 15 points in just over 25 minutes of burn. Mitchell paused slightly and then told me, “I put more emphasis on practice. A lot of guys played well (last night) because they did a lot of the things we’ve been working on them with. Again, it’s the first preseason game… and we just want to build on it. For young players it’s probably more important, but we’re going into Andrea’s third season so Andrea has enough games under his belt to understand this is the NBA and what things he has to do. I’m sure he’s looking at these games the same way, an extension of practice and trying to get better at the things he needs to get better at.”

* Tonight I watched Andrea Bargnani whenever he was on the court and I was impressed with what I saw; it was like seeing a completely different player than the one who wore #7 last season. Bargnani did a great job getting set on the low block on defense, he challenged a ton of shots, he was aggressive on the glass, he took the ball to the rim with authority and his footwork is much improved. Overall it’s a more composed, aggressive and downright “nasty” player that should see a huge in his role with the Raptors this season.

* When Mike D’Antoni was asked before the game about his thoughts on his Olympic experience he cracked a huge ear-to-ear grin and joked, “Well, I learned coaches don’t get medals” After he stopped laughing he told the media he loved the experience and about how he loves a picture he has of his team.

* Something that really impressed me tonight is the way new Raptors announce Matt Devlin carries himself. Even though it’s been months since we talked (and he was in Beijing for the Olympics where he must have met countless media members and fans) he still remembered my name and struck up a conversation with me. On top of that, whenever he would meet someone new he’d shake their hand and get their name. I could be wrong, but if I was a betting man I’d wager that if Devlin were to run into that person a couple months from now he’d still know their name.

* The Raptors were using Trick Daddy’s song “Let’s Go” for their intro before the game. The video was a training camp montage so I’m not sure they’ll use it during the season, but I have my fingers crossed as it’s a great song to get the players and fans hyped before games. The song did the trick tonight as Nate Robinson couldn’t help trying to dance close to one of the Raptors dance pack members…

* Jason Kapono had two pump fakes tonight that stuck out because he shook the New York defender so bad he had a couple seconds to set his feet and hoist up a three-point attempt. Why are the Knicks playing him so close when he’s not known for his drives? In my mind, if someone’s a spot up three-pointer shooter you guard them for that, not the drive.

* Walking down to the tunnel after the game tonight David Lee was visibly frustrated after the loss. You’ve got to hand it to a guy who gets worked up over what is essentially a meaningless game that amounts to being nothing more than a glorified scrimmage.

* Mike D’Antoni opened his post game press conference by joking, “We only got 23 three-point attempts?”

* I was told to keep an eye on Wilson Chandler but I wasn’t impressed by his play tonight. Besides a stunning dunk in the grill of Jermaine O’Neal in the first half, nothing from his game tonight stood out for me and he looked like just another bench player. D’Antoni didn’t see the same thing and was pleased with what Chandler gave the Knicks and gushed to the media after the game, “I thought Wilson was great. He’ll get a bit more comfortable (as the season progresses) but he adds another dimension to us when he’s a power forward. He opens it up and he’s hard to guard.”

* Chris Duhon finished with a game high six turnovers and I couldn’t help but wonder how long D’Antoni’s man crush on Duhon will last. Personally, I doubt it’ll last to opening night if this keeps up, however after the game D’Antoni raved about his point guards near “triple-double” and told the media he likes Duhon’s work ethic.

* Stephon Marbury is producing a 45-minute fitness video called “Starbury & Aim Sports Medicine Presents: The Rebuilding of the Mind, Body and Soul of a Superstar.” It’s due to be on shelves in time for the Christmas shopping season.

* I have to give a shout out to my friend Holly MacKenzie who provided some great company during the game today. It’s great to know she’ll be at games this season so we can chat about hoops.

* I scored an exclusive interview with Allan Houston that will be posted within the next few days here on Hoops Addict. Make sure you check back for the scoop on why he ended his retirement and what he feels he’ll bring to the Knicks this season.

* Make sure you check out Posting and Toasting for some great Knicks content. Seth was able to head to Skidmore College this week and snagged some great video interviews with various Knicks players and coaches.

I made it less than 30 minutes into my tryout before I pulled up limping and had to call it a day; it was barely enough time to work up a sweat.

Even though the tryout didn’t go as planned, it was a great experience as the coaching staff for the Idaho Stampede did a great job of making me feel welcome. Even as I was hobbled on the sidelines, the coaching staff made their way over to check on my status and crack some jokes to lift my spirits.

Before the tryouts began I had the pleasure of chatting with assistant coach Randy Livingston. After playing 10 years in the NBA, he decided to hang up his jersey for the final time after last season and has moved a couple seats down the bench as an assistant coach this season.

Livingston talked with me about his playing career in the NBA, why he decided to pursue a career coaching and why he chose the D-League over the NCAA:

I also had the pleasure of recording an interview with Bryan Gates. Unless you’re a basketball enthusiast, you probably don’t know his name which is a shame because his team enjoyed an 18 game win streak last season and he has been named Coach of the Year in the D-League the past two seasons. Coach Gates has a vast amount of basketball knowledge and it was a pleasure taking part in - perhaps observe would be a more accurate assessment - one of his tryouts. When’s some NBA team going to give him a call up?

I talked with Coach Gates about what the D-League means to him, why he’s holding tryouts in Toronto and a couple of other topics:

Things were going smoothly and I was having a blast until disaster struck:

To prove that I actually suited up for this tryout, I’ve included 10-minutes worth of shell drills the coaching staff ran the players through. If you’re a young player trying to learn something new, these drills are a great things to incorporate into your training.

A big thank you goes out to the Idaho Stampede for letting me live out a dream. Growing up I always dreamed about playing out for a professional basketball team, but being vertically challenged and having the speed of a turtle I never thought I’d even have the opportunity to tryout. Thanks to the great coaching staff on the Stampede I had a blast trying out for the D-League despite my limited time on the hardwood.

I also want to thank Jay Watt for being the man behind the camera today. He volunteered his day to drive into the city with me and sit on the sidelines recording what went down while I had fun taking parts in drills and scrimmages.

For those of you concerned with how my leg is doing, my foot is now a nice shade of royal blue but I’m now able to walk with only a mild Snoop Dogg strut. With some more icing each night after work and proper stretching I’m hoping to run in the Toronto Zoo 5 km race next weekend.

At the end of training camp, Washington Wizards head coach Eddie Jordan said that his primary goal was to keep to his team healthy through the preseason so they would be at full force when the season started with the exception of Gilbert Arenas.  Just four minutes into their 108-82 preseason loss to to the Dallas Mavericks that goal was already in jeopardy.

Midway through the the first quarter, two-time All-Star forward Antawn Jamison injured his knee and had to be helped off the floor.  The initial diagnosis was that his knee was sprained, and after the game the Wizards’  team spokesman announced that had changed that to a strain.  More details about Jamison’s knee will be given in the coming days.

Coming into the preseason opener against the Mavericks, the Wizards were already dealing with the possibility of losing Brendan Haywood for a significant amount of time.  Haywood did not make the trip to Dallas with the team, so that he could seek a second opinion on the wrist he injured during training camp last week.  Haywood told Comcast SportsNet in Washington DC, that surgery is definitely an option, and if it comes to that, he could miss 4 to 6 months.

Guards Nick Young and Juan Dixon made the trip to Dallas, but sat out because of injuries.  Young sat out with a sore knee, and Dixon rested his sore calf.   Arenas, who continues to rehab his knee, also made the trip and was on the bench.

On the court, the Wizards started strong, despite Jamison’s injury and jumped out to a 28-27 first quarter lead.  They were then outscored during the second quarter, 28-12,  and they were never able to close the gap from there.  The Wizards were led by Andray Blatche who scored 18 points and grabbed 5 rebounds and Oleksiy Pecherov who had 12 points and 7 rebounds.  The Mavericks were led by Dirk Nowitzki and Brandon Bass who both scored 17 points.

The Wizards next preseason game is on Wednesday night in Memphis, where they will face the Grizzlies.

Since I see the game from both the player and coaches perspective, I love it when a guy comes along that makes the game look easy.  What most players could learn from Chris Paul is that the key to his success comes from one theory: Be quick but not in a rush.  This is a theory that I elaborated on in my first DVD The Fundamentals of Scoring.

To be quick but not in a rush basically means you must control your speed.  Think of yourself like a stick shift; first gear is walking, second is a light jog, third is running and fourth is accelerating to your fastest speed.  Chris Paul has the ability to go from first to fourth in the blink of an eye but more importantly every time he does so it is for a purpose.

As much as I love college basketball, most to they players do not understand this theory. A lot of young players get the ball and want to go to fourth gear right away.  Just like a car traveling at top speed they are out of control and end up making a bad decision.  Paul understands this theory and this is why he is almost impossible to guard.  The next time you see him play this year, focus on his timing and acceleration.  You will find that his moving from first to fourth gear usually ends up in a lay up for himself or alley opp to Tyson Chandler.

Paul is now the model of what a point guard can and should be.  There are a lot of players in the NBA with his athletic ability but few posses his mastery of the quick/rush theory.

Paul’s game is a work of art that anyone can learn from with practice and patience.

Log on to www.JumpStartHoops.com to sign up for the Coach Godwin newsletter.

Photo Credit: Icon Sports Media

As Jermaine O’Neal arrives in Toronto, his mission for this season is clear: restore his standing amongst the game’s elite and elevate the Raptors from “also-rans” to serious contenders.

Both objectives depend heavily on his surgically restored knee holding up. They are equally contingent on his ability to elevate his game against the beasts of the Eastern Conference: Boston and Detroit. That means O’Neal must raise his level of play against Kevin Garnett and Rasheed Wallace. Does his history against these dominant forwards suggest he will do so?

Before we examine O’Neal’s track record against Garnett and Wallace, it would be sensible to retrace his background more completely to establish patterns in his play and how his career trajectory can be traced compared to his peers.

O’Neal was draft by the Portland Trailblazers in 1996 and played only sparingly for them as a non-rotational player. In fact, he started only 18 games over four years and averaged less than 12 minutes a game over his time in Portland.

Upon being traded to Indiana, his statistics improved significantly to averages of 12.9 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. That season he also led the league in total blocks (228, a franchise record) and led the East in double-doubles. Considering how limited his role was in Portland, it is practical to assess his historical statistics only after he was arrived in Indiana.

O’Neal truly hit his stride in the 2003-04 season as he lead the Pacers with averages of 20.1 points and 10.0 rebounds a game. Despite struggling with injuries and the fallout of the team’s infamous brawl against Detroit, he still averaged a team-high 19.4 points and 9.6 rebounds a game in 2006-07, the last season he played over 55 games. Despite his success, the metrics at www.basketball-reference.com still only list his Hall of Fame Probability at 0.018 (37th among active players)

With this foundational understanding of O’Neal place in the game for the majority of his time with the Pacers, let us look at how he did against Rasheed Wallace’s Pistons, a key foil for the Raptors this season.

In his last five games against Wallace, O’Neal scored 25 points or more three times and over 20 in each contest. Further, he also pulled down double-digit rebounds in four of those games. Despite that individual achievement, the Pacers lost four of those five games. If we look back even further to 2004, when Wallace joined the Pistons, we see that the Pacers were only 6-9 in such games.

The complete stat lines from these contests are below, ordered by his highest scoring game:

Date      W/L   MP   FG   FGA   FT   FTA   ORB  DRB   TRB   AST   STL   BLK   PF   PTS
1/20/04   W    39   10     17      8      8        2       13       15        1        0        4       3      28
1/27/05    L     43   10    22      7      8        1       8          9         2        0        4       3      27
12/13/06  W    38    8     17    10    10        3      11       14         2        2        1       3      26
1/28/07    L     41    7     17    12    16        2      10       12         0        1        5       5      26
12/29/06  W    38    9      22     7     10       4       9        13         2        1        4       1      25
12/28/07  L     30    8      13     9     12       1       5         6          4        0        3       2      25
10/29/03  W    35    10    18     2      5       4      11        15         2        1        5       5      22
12/25/04   L    38    7      19     7     10      0       7          7          1        0        5       4      21
12/29/07   L    37    7      18     6      6       2       9         11         5        1        2       2      20
11/19/04  W    36    5      14    10    14      3      10        13         3        0        0       4      20
4/3/07       L    39    10    16     0      0       1       6          7          3        1        2        1     20
12/19/03   W    38   9      20     1      2       5       6         11         1        0        2        5     19
4/9/06       L     34   6      12     0      0       0       5          5          2        1        2        3     12
4/4/04       L     37   4      15     1      6       3       6          9          1        0        3        0      9
3/24/06     L     29   3      9       2      4       1       6          7          2        0        1        4      8

It would seem that, despite having consistent success personally against Wallace, O’Neal’s teams often lost. That does not bode well for Raptors fans hoping his mere presence will elevate them above a Pistons team that has made the Conference Finals six consecutive times.

Now, onto O’Neal’s record against Garnett. Admitted, these statistics are harder to project against how he might fare now against Garnett given the increased quality of Garnett’s team compared to that in Minnesota. Still though, there are some interesting trends to notice.

Since joining Indiana, O’Neal has faced Garnett 10 times. In these games he has scored in double figures in all but one game and went over 20 points on five occasions. He also managed to grab at least nine rebounds in six of these contests. His record against Garnett also speaks volumes, as his Pacers went 7-3 against Minnesota since 2000. The complete stat lines from these contests are below, ordered by his highest scoring game:

Date      W/L  MP   FG   FGA   FT   FTA   FT%   ORB   DRB   TRB   AST   STL   BLK   PF   PTS
12/16/00  L     38   11    18     8     10     0.8            2       7       9         0         0        2         5     30
4/14/06    W    38   10    16     9     12     0.75          2      10     12        4         0        2         3    29
11/9/04    W    33    9     22     4      5     0.8             4       4       8         0         1        3         6    22
11/2/02    W    41    9     23     3      4     0.75           4      10      14       0         0        2         4    21
11/16/02  W    34   10    20     0      0        -             9      11      2         2         1        4               20
11/25/03  W    33    7     16     3      4     0.75            1       8      9         5         0        6         6    17
12/20/03  L     31    6     18     4      4     1.00            2       3      5         0          1       1         4    16
3/15/02    W    41    7     14     1      3     0.333          2       5      7         4          1       1         4    15
12/23/06  L     35    5     11     1      7     0.143          1     10      11       2          1       5         4    11
2/25/01    W    16    1      4     2       2      1.00           2       2      4         2          0       0         4     4

Jermaine O’Neal has arrived in Toronto leaner and healthier than he has been in at least three seasons. He has said all the right things to the media, talking about his intensity, his will to win, and his burning desire. If he stays healthy (admittedly a big if) he gives the team a defensive presence underneath it has not had since Antonio Davis was an All-Star.

The team is hoping he will team with Chris Bosh to give them shot-blocking and rebounding to compete with the strong frontcourts in Detroit and Boston. His past statistics show he has had individual success against those team’s star post players, though did not always win the contests. But if he can consistently match his historical production against Garnett and Wallace, he may yet make the Raptors a serious player next spring.

Photo Credit: Icon Sports Media

Boston Celtics
Jeff Clark: CelticsBlog.com
Jim Weeks: Green Bandwagon
FLCeltsFan: LOY’s Place
John Karalis: Red’s Army
Dustin Chapman: Celtics 24/7

New Jersey Nets
Dennis Velasco: About Basketball

New York Knicks
Joey: Straight Bangin’
Seth Rosenthal: Posting and Toasting

Philadelphia 76ers
Dannie & Pete: Recliner GM
Jon Burkett: Passion and Pride

Toronto Raptors
Franchise: RaptorsHQ.com
Ryan McNeill: Hoops Addict
Cuzzy: Cuzoogle

Last Years Record: 41-41
Losses: Maceo Baston,  Primoz Brezec, Carlos Delfino, Juan Dizon, Jorge Garbajosa, T.J. Ford, Linton Johnson, Darrick Martin and Rasho Nesterovic.
Additions: Hassan Adams, Nathan Jawai, Jermaine O’Neal, Will Solomon and Roko-Leni Ukic.

1. What significant moves were made during the offseason? Bryan Colangelo’s most prominent move this summer was moving T.J. Ford and some spare parts to Indiana for Jermaine O’Neal and Nathan Jawai. While many members of the media and fans initially scoffed at this deal, after hearing the results of O’Neal’s summer workouts in Las Vegas it looks like Colangelo’s gamble may pay off this season. Even if O’Neal is a bust on the court - something I don’t see happening - this deal could still pay huge dividends as O’Neal becomes a free agent following next season which is the same time Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and a handful of all-star caliber players become free agents. With over $20 million to throw at these players, the Raptors will be in great shape to add another franchise caliber player to play alongside Chris Bosh for the next decade.

2. What are the team’s biggest strengths? As long as Bosh and O’Neal can stay healthy the teams biggest strength this season will be it’s frontcourt. The Raptors talented duo have combined to play in nine All-Star games over the past decade and look to become the prominent front court duo in the NBA. Throw Jawai, Humphries and Bargnani into the mix coming off the bench and the Raptors have moved from being a team challenged on the glass to possibly one of the top rebounding teams in the NBA this season.

3. What are the team’s biggest weaknesses? The past few seasons the Raptors have thrived on being able to go 12 players deep and not be slowed by injuries. However, this summer Bryan Colangelo sacrificed the teams depth in order to form a trio to anchor the team. While some fans initially bristled at this change, it’s become clear that having a franchise player surrounded by role players just wasn’t cutting it. Now the Raptors have three elite players in Bosh, O’Neal and Jose Calderon surrounded by role players that compliment that trio. They have Jamario Moon as their lock down defender, Anthony Parker as the wily vet, Andrea Bargnani trying to prove he wasn’t a bust and Jason Kapono to prevent opposing defenses from collapsing on O’Neal and Bosh in the post. While this strategy looks good on paper after what Boston did last summer, if the injury bug hits O’Neal, Bosh or Calderon then this team could find themselves in big trouble this season.

4. What are the goals for this team? Besides keeping O’Neal, Bosh and Calderon healthy? The team must improve on their 41 wins from last season and secure home court advantage in the playoffs. After losing 13 games by five points or less last season, I think securing 50+ wins this season is a modest goal which would also allow the team to host an opening round series in the playoffs.

5. Which player will be playing significant minutes in April after being an unknown player heading into training camp? I don’t know if Roko-Leni Ukic will average more than 30 minutes per game this season like Jamario Moon did last year, but I feel confident he’ll play a big role on this team and surprise a lot of fans. The Raptors need to monitor Calderon’s minutes in his first season as a starter so I wouldn’t be surprised to see Ukic play 15-20 minutes per game off the bench spelling Calderon while also getting some minutes at shooting guard. Ukic’s shown this summer that he can play with some of the best players in the world during the Olympics, so it’s just a matter of time before he gets adjusted to the style of play in the NBA and earns significant minutes in the Raptors backcourt.

Predicted Record: 52-30

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