tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34643462.post7688312893403864535..comments2023-10-08T06:54:46.448-04:00Comments on Diminishing Skills: 2012-13 NBA Preview: Toronto RaptorsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13000425810218943446noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34643462.post-70606263936885205252012-10-24T21:32:05.370-04:002012-10-24T21:32:05.370-04:00My sleeper in the East, as I am picking the Raps t...My sleeper in the East, as I am picking the Raps to taste the playoffs this season! Crazy am I? Here my case. Dwayne Casey is one of the league's underrated coaches - the Raps jumped from 30th to 12th in defensive efficiency in one season... without evening acquiring a defensive stopper in the 2011 offseason! Incredible. And now with Lowry running the point - who you may recall I ranked as a top 40 player in the league 12 months ago (wouldn't go quite that high now) - there actually some scoring to be had in the backcourt. I like Valanciunas' game and think it will complement the skills of Bargnani to decrease his weaknesses (like, um, playing defense) and accentuate his offensive strengths. When I look at the bottom of the East playoff race, I don't see a lot of teams with as much promise as this one. Raps back to the playoffs for the first time in the post-Bosh era!Phil W.https://www.blogger.com/profile/00080007795720249834noreply@blogger.com