I’m trying to figure out if the Raptors are REALLY good, or just, you know, really good. Because they’ve looked like contenders so far this season, kind of. I say kind of because their roster doesn’t scream “These guys are going to win a chip and fill a hot tub full of champagne!” to me. Just a bunch of players who are okay, really good, or somewhere in between. No superstars, not even a bona fide for sure All-Star.
Jonas Valanciunas is one of those pretty decent players. He’s not amazing, but he can be very good at times, especially if players don’t read the scouting report and bite on his pump fakes (Alex Len probably can’t read English so he gets a pass this time). Jonas’ minutes are down, even below what he was getting his rookie year, and I don’t know why. 17 and 12 and 2 per36 is a great line for a third-year center. There must be some extenuating factors…
Figured it out! Dwane Casey is still, apparently, the coach. That would be a major reason why I don’t think the Raptors are contenders.