Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff
It looks like we’ll see if Celtics basketball operations man Danny Ainge can do what Bryan Colangelo has done in Toronto since taking over last February.
The Toronto Raptors enter play today with a record of 46-33 and with the Atlantic Division crown wrapped up. They also currently hold the third playoff position in the Eastern Conference.
Last year, the Raptors finished with a record of 27-55 which translates into a robust winning percentage of .329. In fact, they’ve had just one .500 season in their last five.
2004-05 season: 33-49 (.402)
2003-04: 33-49 (.402)
2002-03: 24-58 (.293)
2001-02: 42-40 (.512)
Before making the assumption that the Toronto roster was probably barren of legit talent, it should also be noted that Vince Carter didn’t get traded until during the 2004-05 season, and Chris Bosh was selected as a All-Star in 2005-06.
Still, Colangelo didn’t waste time shaking up the roster. Three of last year’s top five scorer’s no longer with the team (Mike James, Charlie Villanueva, and Matt Bonner).
Despite this fact, Toronto is the third-best scoring team in the Eastern Conference.
Colangelo’s off-season additions included signing Rasho Nesterovic, Jorge Garbojosa and Anthony Parker, acquiring point guard T.J. Ford, and drafting 7-foot tall Italian Andrea Bargnani with the first overall pick. Raptors guard Juan Dixon was added in February.
Ford, Bargnani, and Dixon have all averaged 10 points per game or more since joining the team. Ford has also dished out a career-high 8.0 assists per game (sixth-best in the NBA).
This year it will be Ainge’s turn to engineer a similar turnaround.
Click the comments link below to share your thoughts, questions, or just sound off on the Celtics?
Danny Ainge and the Celtics Front Office staff would help by taking a cue from Jerry Colangelo by making sure to land a Big Man! If Oden and Durant fall through they still have to find a way to grab a Big Man for scoring and rebounding Help!
Go Celtics!
How do you think Roy Hibbert will do as a pro? My view may be a bit skewed because I am a Georgetown fan.
I don't think Hibbard is as quick as Oden or some of the elite NBA big men. Also, at 7-foot-2 and 278 pounds, he didn't dominate the glass in college the way you'd think. Actually, his teammate Jeff Green did almost as much rebounding as he did.
Still, this season alone I remember listening to Doc Rivers and Gregg Popovich talk about the lack of true centers in the league right now. When you look at it, there aren't too many guys that will be able to match-up with his size.
Then again, Michael Olowokandi was viewed as a physical specimen when the Clippers drafted hims first overall in 1998. This past year he was a reserve player for the Celtics. Had Theo Ratliff been healthy, he might not have gotten the little bit of playing time he did.
Skill-wise I think Hibbard still has got a ways to go.