Raptors Want to Be Magic of North

LAS VEGAS -- Raptors coach Jay Triano already has thought a lot about how his team is going to play in 2009-10. He pretty much wants the Raptors to be the Orlando Magic of the North.

Triano has three versatile big men at his disposal – Chris Bosh, Andrea Bargnani and Hedo Turkoglu – and he plans to employ the same kind of system that was successful for the Magic this past season.

"Hedo is so good at handling the ball, and we're not afraid of letting our forwards do that," Triano said. "Bargnani stretches the defense with his ability to shoot and Bosh is good inside or facing up or rolling to the basket. I would think we'll do things similar to what Orlando did.

"Just replace Bosh for Dwight [Howard]. Set those screens and roll down the lane, make there be a double-team and surround guys with other guys who can knock down shots from outside."

Finding another player or two who can do that will likely be Toronto's next order of business. Turkoglu, Bargnani and Jose Calderon are the Raptors' best shooters from beyond the arc, but they could use a little bit of a specialist.

They traded Jason Kapono as part of the deal that yielded Reggie Evans. But the good news is that the Raptors are still under the cap, and there are still some shooters out there.

If Triano has one concern about the Bosh-Bargnani-Turkoglu trio, it's of course, at the defensive end.

"One of them is going to have to take a quicker guy and smaller forward," Triano said. "At the same time, I like the fact that we can put guys who are 6-10, 6-10 and 7-1 out there at the same time.

"So I like the fact we're going to be a bigger team inside. We just have to make sure we work on keeping guys in front of us, stopping them from getting into the paint."

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

7-11-2009 @ 9:38PM

Giles said...

Hedo is still Hedo, Chris compares well with `Shard, but Andrea will have to triple his rebounding to begin to compare with Dwight, Wince wasn`t there last season for Orlando and Parker may not be there this season for Toronto, Jose has twice the assists of Jameer and should have been an all star instead of Jam. Jose is maybe third best point guard in the league, behind Paul and Williams, maybe best point guard in the east. Hedo was a good pick up for Toronto, and now Orlando seems to be starting to recover from losing him, adding Ryan Anderson and Brandon Bass, but they still need another forward for their rotation. As many Raptor fans know, Vince is not a wing forward, he`s a wing guard. And so is Pietrus. But if Andrea finally does begin to learn defense and rebounds, and the Raptors can add a starting quality wing guard, they could be competing against the Magic in the playoffs, which Bosh might enjoy, if he stays. But if he doesn`t extend, for a resoanble price, he may well be dealt off. With the Raptors losing while he`s around, and the economic depression, he is not going to command anything like a max salary IF the GMs go sane for a change. Hedo will play the three on both ends if Bosh isn`t man enough to play perimeter defense, the defnsive weakness is at center, primarily. Andrea is young, maybe he`ll learn.

7-12-2009 @ 12:44AM

DM said...

Raptors will never win anything. I don't get this whole Hedo thing, this guy has been around the league more than awhile, he had one descent season with the Magic, a descent season for the first time in his career and all of the sudden, he is hot. If you ask me, he is just a one-season wonder. Toronto will once again, witness Vince Carter destroy Toronto's hopes with his new Magic team. Bosh will leave Toronto soon. Mark my words.

7-12-2009 @ 10:47AM

rk68 said...

DM... you're an idiot! Hedo is a "one season wonder"?? You gotta be kidding me. He's had SEVERAL great seasons with the Magic and he was a big part of Orlando getting to the playoffs in previous and to the Finals this year. He didn't only play great last season but has BEEN doing it for a long time. He WILL help the Raptors a LOT!

7-12-2009 @ 11:08AM

I'm sure he will. Raptors is a cursed franchise. Star players just come and go. Damon Stoudamire, Marcus Camby, T-mac, Billups, Vince, Marion... did I miss anyone? And pretty soon, Chris Bosh. Best of luck to your Hedo, I'm sure he will lead Raptors to it's first ever title next year.

7-12-2009 @ 2:34PM

albomafia586 said...

Hedo isn't going to be do anything at Toronto. This guy might put up some points up on the board, but Toronto being the team going to the FINALS! HAHAHA now thats a joke. Hedo can enjoy that 53 million dollar contract by doing nothing with a dead loss team.

7-12-2009 @ 6:22PM

905 said...

you guys are idiots. are you tellin me this team is gonna be dead last? or there gonna be CHAMPS? are you guys seriously that out of the nba loop? this team has gotten strong, with the addition of Hedo and reportedly two more players. They will not win the nba finals and neither will they be DEAD LAST! The coming year the most you can expect is a good playoff time( if they click maybe win the first round). This team, if the core i.e (bosh,hedu,bargs,jose) remains similar at the start of the 2010, will be one of the contenders in 2010 as the chemistry will greatly improve after a yr. Seriously stop making uneducated comments. Btw there is a reason why an organization has professions looking into each player before they sign them and not you guys. Bashing a team, or players they sign will not do any of us any good. Be happy the GM is attempting each yr to make the team better than before. Go raptors!