Is the talent level really that much better on this year’s team, compared to last season?

Yes, it is … but, perhaps, not as much as you’ve been led to believe by the Raptors’ brass, when considering all 3 main phases of the game, i.e. Offense, Defense and Rebounding, as opposed to Offense only.

Time will tell if this collection of players and coaches is little more than a middle of the pack team in the improved Eastern Conference, or something more than that.

I suspect, however, that the team is still perilously close to being in Treadmill Mode, despite the almost total roster overhaul which took place this past summer.

No way I trade Calderon for Davis. Have you seen him play lately? He was awful last year and isn’t looking any better this year. He’s a career .409 shooter and is turning 31 this year. And his defense might be worse than Calderon’s. No way.

khandor,

I think this years talent IS an upgrade over last season. Easily. The problem is that they have holes that last years team (after the Marion deal) didn’t. I think most people would have preferred Marion, but he didn’t want to re-sign.

Leon,

Thanks. I don’t know if this team can be great (not without upgrades), but I do think this team can be very good.

I think this team may not be as good as the 06-07 team, but they have more room for growth than that team. That was my only quibble about that team. That team was about as good as it was going to get. With this team, there’s more youth and more potential.

Offensively, Bargnani has always been an effective role player.

In terms of Defense and Rebounding, however, whatever team he plays for is going to struggle to reach elite status, as long as he is getting major minutes.

Fortunately for a player like him, the vast majority of people who watch the NBA are concerned with what a player does on offense, first and foremost.

Unfortunately for the Raptors, the best opponents’ coaches in the NBA know exactly how to take advantage of his many short-comings in the other two areas of the game.

Those who seek out high scoring entertaining games don’t really care if the team ever has a legit shot at winning a league championship in their lifetime.

Although I agree with you on most things, I still stubbornly believe that this team can still work well once they get more comfortable playing together.

I still think that we may be a 2nd tier team in the East.

Will it be as good or better than the 06-07 roster? Maybe not, as I still think we don’t have an x-factor kind of guy that can fire up and command the team ala A.D. and/or Oak.

As good as CB4 is, I don’t know if he is at that point yet (or will ever be).

As you know, I have never been a Bargs fan, but if he continues to steadily improve, his contract might be a steal.