NBA Preview: Toronto Raptors

I love my contract extension, ay!

Changes:
Probably the biggest move was getting rid of general manager Rod Babcock - a man who made Isiah Thomas look like Red Auerbach - and replacing him with wunderkind Bryan Colangelo, who put together the Suns' impressive roster. His first off-season moves as GM have been impressive: drafting Andrea Bargniani #1 overall, who looks to be a stud, signing proven Euros Jorge Garbajosa and Anthony Parker, and picking up Steve A. Smith's claim-to-fame Rasho Nesterovic. They're not even in the US, so I guess the don't need no stinking Americans. The organization caught a little grief for trading Charlie Villanueva for TJ Ford, but I like the move. Their offense should be dominated by Chris Bosh, and Ford is a pass-first, dear-god-please-don't-show-me-that-jumper second type of player. Villanueva would have cut into Bargniani's minutes, anyway. I like the Fred Jones pickup, too. Who? Fred Jones. Good scorer off the bench, solid defender, insanely athletic. They also brought in Kris Humphries, who has looked like an interior presence in the preseason. Oh, and I love Sam Mitchell. One of the league's top 5 coaches. I'll stop now, b/c I'm beginning to like this team a little too much.

Style of Play:
Given their roster, you would guess straight-Euro, with lots of white-homos making weird cuts, chucking set-shot threes and passing a few extra times to drag out their offensive set in lieu of playing defense, but it's a little funkier than that. Ford pushes the ball up the floor in a very aggressive fashion, and they've got a bunch of horses that can run - even their bigs. Pretty much all half-court sets will go through Bosh, as they should. He's probably the best player in the NBA that no one has seen play.

Impact Player:
Without question, Chris Bosh. I didn't like this selection when he came out of Georgia Tech, but he's proven to be a stud that deserves to be mentioned in the James/Wade/Anthony conversation. His only problem is that he's playing in front of 5,000 people who are wondering how those really tan fellas keep from slipping on the ice with those goshdarn sneakers on.

Player you would most like to get arrested with and where:
The winner here is Kris Humphries. I must say, I'm intrigued. Why? Let me submit a chronological string of evidence. Exhibit A. Exhibit B. Exhibit C. Exhibit D. Xzibit E. Has Mr. Humphries turned African-American right before our very eyes? Does he have the opposite of whatever effects Michael Jackson? Is it alright for us to be talking about this? These are all questions that I would ask. The arrest would obviously involve drinking Moleson Ice and getting into a barfight with several bearded, flannel-wearing men at a Toronto bar owned by Doug Flutie.

Prediction:
I can't get too crazy here, but I feel like I'm about to. I think Toronto is going to battle it out with the Magic, Celts and Nets for those last two playoff spots. They'll improve on that 27-win season of last year to go 39-43, which will probably be just out of the playoffs in the improving East. This team is on the rise, mark my words, you hosers.