Sunday Thought - Who's the Face of the Raptors Next Season?

There should be no doubts : SHE should be the face of the Franchise :)

I think he should show some humility.

But I’m OK with her, I guess. Just what we need, another Euro import.
Hope Andrea took it inside.

I love the idea of the team playing with a chip on their shoulders and being known has a tough team to play. The reason it can work is because they are young and they can out hustle other teams in the regular season because of their youth, depth and urgency.

But the face of the Raptors should be on two fronts, not one. The two guys that average 20 points per game, should both be on the front page of the program and share the spotlight. Both would probably do better sharing the spotlight to spread the pressure out a bit and make it easier to handle. If Demar and Andrea can average close to 20 pts per, than they should share the spotlight and the Raptors will make the playoffs.

Remember, this is coming from a fan who wants to believe. Not a betting man.

The best thing I can come up with next year is who we don’t have starting and how our D in the starting five has improved at every position.

Jose goes from being a liability on D in the starting five, to being one of the best backup point guards in the NBA. Jack is better on D.

Hedo…….gone……..Kleiza is young and is better on D. So are the entire University of Kentucky basketball women’s team.

Demar is still Demar, but he’s no longer a rookie and his D should be much better (one of the things to watch with Demar)

Bosh for Amir is difficult to say but I am going to give the hustle and grit on D to Amir and hope that he improves now that he will be given the minutes.

Andrea has improved each of the last two seasons and there is no reason to believe that he will not do the same this year. He has gotten tougher and more willing to engage physically the longer he has been in the league. He just looks a little tougher every year and I expect his D to improve this year.

Now on Offense, there is a huge drop off at the four but that will hopefully be countered some by Demars improvement on O. Also, I expect Sonny to be more effective on O. Maybe this year could be better than last year. Maybe we can start hungry and tough and stick together has a group and make something amazing happen. Isn’t that what the commercials promise? Maybe?

Not that I was paying attention, but Bargnani looks to have put on some muscle… could be a good sign.

A lot of raptor players are playing great at the tournment ..barbosa is by far been the best player for Brazil, linas has played great, hell even David Anderson has had a good tournment..I’d say since the young guns have been in the spot light more I’d give them the nod for face of the franchise.

The face, and the leader is gone. One or the other can not be annointed, but must emerge this year and demonstrate by their performance who it will be, and how the TEAM will play.

Raptors TEAM experience is minimal with 7 new, 6 with 1yr, Andrea with 4yrs, and Jose with 5 years with the TEAM amongst the current 15 players.

Definately a wait and see season !!

.
When it comes to: "Who’s the Face of the Raptors Next Season?", my concern has to be with Raptor chemistry.
.
Last year, that chemistry bothered me – I thought it was pretty much zero. For this season, that concern is somewhat tempered. I guess one could read into all that twitter paranoia crap (and why no response to Andrea’s "reach out" to the Youngs Gunz). Suffice to say, twitter etiquette is not my forte, nor do I ever wish it to be. What I do believe, is that guys like Kleiza & Barbosa will put their stamp on the Raptors this season.
.
The careers of Linas (where’s my blanket?) & Leandro, provide proof that they’ve done some good things. For the Young Guns, that remains an opportunity. Until that "potential" happens, I see the "experienced guns" laying down a certain order (along with Jack), and Bargnani (in his own unique way …. the womanizer in him may intimidate the “younger” boys).
.
Kleiza most likely wants to show that he can take his 9.9 ppg (22.2 min avg) to another level. Barbosa will want to prove he still has it (and wishes to put the past year behind him). Andrea knows he’ll be out of CB’s shadow – but he also knows the pressure will be on him. Part of me thinks that’s a challenge he’ll embrace – despite how some are making a prejudgment based on last season’s numbers … sans-Bosh.
.
In all, a good way to start. Expectations are low, and there’s lots to prove.
.

Raptors fans seem to be writing this season off too easily. It should be a stepping stone to a title. The “first step” could be the theme for the year. Not a year with “low expectations.”

Look, realistically it will be a tough season, but as fans we watch for the promise of something better. For the chance to be successful, to progress, to achieve and maybe even to win. I feel like too many “fans” have given up before we have begun on this team. For all the “analysts” who are suggesting the Raps are in tough this season, I fully understand and agree with you. For the Raptor “fans” out there, hold your heads high and be excited for this season with “high expectations”.

 We have never been this young and athletic as we are today. Our bench is solid and almost every player on the roster is young and improving. They are more athletic then they are strictly basketball players, which should give them a lot of potential to improve, especially defensively. I see one super star away from contending for a title in two years. Anyone want to borrow my rose coloured glasses?