Raptors Seeking Winning Change from Prehistoric Losing

The San Dova NBA 2008-2009 Season Preview

The Toronto Raptors of 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 were an (altogether) strong, emergent team that were looking to take the head off the other bodies of the Eastern Conference teams, but with inconsistency, inadequacy and injuries abounding, consecutive first-round exits seemed to be a natural products of the circumstances. Enter the updated Raptors, trim with youth and strong in veteran presence.

A major change revolves around the leaving of Terence Jerod "T.J." Ford and the coming of Jermaine O'Neal, from the Indiana Pacers, from a trade no less. With a controversy brewing around the starting point guard position with Jose Calderon and the lack of post presence aside from Chris Bosh, the trade between the two franchises seemed natural and a necessary option to take advantage of. O'Neal was most effective when he was healthy and had a teammate that could be interchangeable with him near the basket, not unlike Brad Miller. With age and malaise really doing the Pacers in recent years, O'Neal's arrival to Toronto should be to the benefit of the entire Toronto team. Bosh finally gets a big man versatile enough to play effectively and Calderon finally can breathe comfortably enough to run the show full-time.