Raptor Line-Up Thoughts

Shooting Guard

The shooting guard position is one full of question marks for this team. There is no clear-cut starter and it seems Anthony Parker won the starting gig by default. Joey Graham and Jason Kapono both can compete for the spot, but they havent really put up much of a battle. Because of the lack of clear options at our wing positions, they may be some overlap between the 2 and 3 for the Raps next year. Mitchell will undoubtedly experiment in hopes of finding the best combintation of players to complement Calderon, Bosh and O'Neal.

Starter: Anthony Parker
Second Man: Jason Kapono
Scrub / Rook: Joey Graham

Anthony Parker was a solid contributor but you could see as he end of games he showed signs of fatigue. He plays best coming off screens or being the pass out of a double team; basically when the shot is created for him. He has a very sweet jumper and is pretty consistent when open. We play him way too many minutes becuase of a lack of alternatives and this excessive playing leads him to tire at the end of games. He would be a great bench player or one who plays around 15-20 minutes a game. His rebounding is average at about 4.1 a game while contributing 2.2 assists a game. What makes him a good fit on this team is that he is willing to make the hustle plays and usually plays within the flow of the game. He would defer plays to the main stars of the team and get his own through broken plays, and out of double teams. He is a good defender but is getting a bit slower with age. Good player for this team, wrong use. But he's the best we got.

projected stats: 26.0 mpg, .460 fg%, .385 3pt%, .830 ft%, 3.6 rpg, 2 asg, 0.3 spg, 1.5 tpg, 8 ppg

Jason Kapono is one player which could make us a major player this year if he performs well. He has an amazing release and is usually a dead-eye shooter. Last year he played too tentatively and this was compounded with Smitch continually subbing him in and out without any regularity. He is a below-average defender and some say he is a good 'team defender' but I don't neccessarily agree. A team defender would be good if we play zone, but for the majority of the time, we do not. He seems to know what to do on defense, he is just not capable of phsyically doing it. However he is improving and I think he will have a major role this year.

projected stats: 18.0 mpg, .510 fg%, .480 3pt%, .840 ft%, 2.3 rpg, 2.2 asg, 0.2 spg, 1 tpg, 11 ppg

Aaah, Joey Graham. Joey Mr. Frustrating Graham. He is entering his third season and is still way too inconsistent. He is also a victim to the random substitution of Sam and does not know his role with the team. Throughout last seasn his jumper seems to have improved and sometimes can take over a game with his sheer athleticism and drive, but rarely does it. I honesstly do not think he has the brain to play in the NBA. He has all the physical gifts, but does not know how to utilize them. He can rebound, but doesn't and he could play great defense but has not shown that yet. This is his make-or-break year with the team.

projected stats: 10.0 mpg, .430 fg%, .365 3pt%, .780 ft%, 3.6 rpg, 1 asg, 0.4 spg, 2 tpg, 6 ppg

Overall the shooting guard position is lacking in depth, but brimming with potential. If we could get a career year out of Kapono or Graham, it would go a long way towards the Raptors becoming a real contender. Only time will tell if that is the case.