ESPN's experts predict the finish for the 2009-10 version of your Toronto Raptors. Chris Sheridan is drinking the Kool-Aid and has the Raptors finishing fourth in the East, while Chad Ford and stat geek John Hollinger are a bit more pessimistic. Overall, the experts have tabbed the Raptors for a second-place finish in the Atlantic and seventh place in the East, which sounds about right.

Ken Berger of CBS also sees the Dinos finishing second in the Atlantic behind the Boston Celtics, and offers best and worst case scenarios for the upcoming season.

Still expecting Hedo Turkoglu to produce in the clutch this season? I'll let the folks at Third Quarter Collapse take it away:

What's quite jarring about these data is just how far off Turkoglu dropped last year. His three-point accuracy in crunch time dropped in half, and his overall shooting by one-eighth.

Need another source of optimism prior to next week's season opener against Cleveland? Raptors Republic cites Jay Triano's basketball IQ as the "life raft" in an ocean of expectations.

The Score's Holly MacKenzie compiles notes and quotes from yesterday's conference call with Raptors coach Jay Triano. She also chatted with the unfailingly polite Amir Johnson recently.

Hello! Broadcaster Jack Armstrong points out five areas the Raptors are working on ahead of the season. Defence is obviously one of the areas they are working on, but right now it doesn't look good.

Defensive strategy was definitely off the menu yesterday, as the Raptors hit the lanes instead of the practice court for a much-needed team-building exercise.

Chris Bosh does not want anyone messing with his routine.

The Toronto Sun's Frank Zicarelli on why it would be a mistake to start rookie DeMar DeRozan.

T. Jose Caldesports is not putting a lot of stock in the Raptors' pre-season performance. Tim from The Picket Fence is also not a big fan of the preseason. He takes some of the media to task for their faulty observations thus far.

The regular season hasn't even started, but Hip Hoop Junkies have already honoured Sonny Weems with a 'Tweet of the Season'. And speaking of tweets, you should probably be following Patrick O'Bryant.

Nathan Jawai's odyssey takes him to the Twin Cities, where he is expected to provide short-term help to a front court decimated by injuries to Kevin Love and Al Jefferson.