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| Thursday, October 11 Updated: October 12, 3:34 PM ET Users: Raptors have numerous breakout options ESPN.com |
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So who do you like to break out for the Raptors. Besides Vince Carter, Toronto needs someone else to rely on, and users gave props to a bunch of different names, including Alvin Williams and Morris Peterson.
Your Raptors Feedback Hakeem Olajuwon and Antonio Davis are probably going to perform at about the same level as they did last year, so the Raptors' success hinges on the play of Morris Peterson and Alvin Williams. Last year, Peterson showed some flashes, but he lacked confidence and it showed. One year later and with an NBA season under his belt, he should have more confidence in his abilities and have a breakout season. Alvin Williams has mad handles and showed toward the end of the season that he can dish the ball off with the best of them. If he builds on last year's success, he could have a breakout season as well. The Raptors' Finals chances rest on the shoulders of these two players having big seasons. Otherwise, I don't see them getting past Milwaukee, or even Philly.
Jason Hsu
Alvin Williams, now starting through the whole season, will become one of the top point guards in the East. When he started last year, he put up respectable numbers with 12.3 points and 7.2 assists and was playing a solid point. His stats will improve and alongside Carter, he will be part of the best guard duo the league currently has. He will take the load of Vince's shoulders, which he already was able to do, especially in the playoffs. Give this guy two more years, and you have an All-Star!
Ulf Boegeholz
You raise a great point with the question of who is capable, or willing, to step forward and provide a real second scoring threat for the Raptors this season. I think it isn't going to be any one individual that solves this problem. The combination of Dream-AD-Alvin Williams provides enough of a scoring threat to easily counteract the lack of a single individual second scorer. The new NBA rules this year dictate that to have any chance of success against a zone, multiple offensive options must exist in order to expose the weakside of the defense. All three of Dream-AD-Alvin, as well as MoPete, have proven in the past their ability to can open jumpers. If the Sixers can make the Finals with Mutombo and his embarrassing offensive game as their second scoring option, then the Raps will have no worries. As for Charles Oakley, yeah, his take on the English language will be missed, but what used to be Oak-bravado in the media and the locker room, now just smacks of bitter-old man syndrome. Let the Bulls fans in the front row catch Oakley's errant behind the back passes this season.
Jonathan
Antonio Davis will improve on his career year of last season. He has been knocking down the 15-17-footer all camp, as he was doing in the playoffs vs Philly. Rebounds, points and blocks will all go up. Alvin is gonna be good for 9 assists and 13 points a night and Boston will again regret cancelling the Fortson trade. Keon, JYD, and MoPete will all improve. And so will that No. 15 guy. What's his name again? Emergence by committee.
Fergie
After Lenny Wilkens took over as the head coach for the Raptors, Alvin Williams emerged as a stellar point guard. Although statistically his numbers were not very impressive, he showcased what few point guards can in the league today. Last season, he had shown to be a clutch shooter, he had shown his midrange jumpers, he had shown his ball handling skills, he had shown his defensive prowess, and most importantly, he had shown what his duty as a point guard was for this team. Now all he has to prove is to be a factor in the playoffs. With all this talent just itching to bloom, there's no question he is the player who will emerge to make the Raptors a real threat.
Woong Kim
It's tough to pick one person to emerge as Vince Carter's "Pippen." Davis is one of my favorite post players in the NBA and Olajuwon was my favorite in his prime. The associates at Williams, Williams and Clark showed they have what it takes. To answer the question, I cast my vote for Morris Peterson. Mo Pete showed flashes of perfection as a rookie and it can only get better from here. Sure he made mistakes, but he's a champion (Michigan State) and I believe that never dies. At 6-7 he can be knocking down 3's and slashing to the hoop, so this young duo will rule Canada and the NBA for years to come.
Scott Pele' Shell
There are three people who can help Vince out a lot. Hakeem, because of his championship days with the Rockets, A.D., for his experience with Indy, and Dell Curry, who has lots of playoff experience, plus he can get it done in the clutch. Case in point: Raptors-Sixers Game 7. Dell's late trey set up the opportunity for Vince's buzzer-beater. There's also Alvin Williams and Chris Childs. Williams had virtually no experience going into last season's playoffs, and he was spectacular. Childs has plenty of experience from his Knick days, and used it well in the post-season for the Raptors. Jerome Williams has some experience, so if he gets more minutes, Clark gets over his playoff bugs, and MoPete explodes like he did in Games 6 and 7, you might as well pencil them down for the NBA Championship. Still, we'll have to see if Vince learned from Charles Oakley's criticism last year and won't have to wait until the Raptors are down one or two games to turn it on.
Alborz Mohtashami
No one will emerge for the Raptors to make then a Finals threat; I feel their time has come and gone already. They are a team much like the Sixers, last year's East representative in the NBA Finals, with one scorer and a bunch of complementary role players. However, with improvements by the Bucks, the Magic, and the maturation of teams like Charlotte and Atlanta, it is unlikely that a team composed like the Raptors can make it back to the East finals. It'll take a big move in the draft to bring in that second star for the Raptors to see the finals in the East in the near future.
Clark
I think Antonio Davis is going to have a monstrous year this season. Last year, playing as a center, AD managed to put up career numbers in points and rebounds. Playing in the PF position, AD will prove himself more than a match against other Eastern conference power forwards. Davis has been battle-trained in the center position over the last two seasons; no other power forward in the East can match that kind of experience and conditioning. The frontcourt situation for Eastern conference teams is shady at best with the exception of the Raptors. Even without Oak, the Raptors have a deeper and more experienced frontcourt than any other team in the East. With the rule changes for this coming season, teams trying to double/triple team Vince on defense will be paying for it in the post.
Bobby
Olajuwon may be well past his prime but he can still be at least as effective -- if not moreso -- than Charles Oakley on the front line. Alvin Williams should blossom under the tutelage of Lenny Wilkens. Even though both Peterson and Carter are two-guards and are undersized for the small forward spot in today's NBA, team defense will overcome that shortcoming. If there is ever a severe size mismatch at that position, Jerome Williams can be very effective at the 3 in terms of energy, hustle, rebounds and defense. Wilkens will be able to play both big and small lineups effectively so he should be able to match up with any team they face. The Raptors will be in the Eastern Conference Finals and probably beyond if the Dream stays healthy.
Major Stewart
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