It’s tough being a Toronto Raptors fan. It always hurts, a lot. The Raptors are on the verge of getting swept by the Cavs. I still have blind hope that the Raptors will win 4 straight, but for all intents and purposes, the season is over. So let’s start talking about what needs to be done in the off-season.
The Raptors are fundamentally flawed in how they are built. This team would dominate in years past, but we’re not built for the modern NBA. The teams that are able to compete this season in the NBA are the offense-heavy, three-point heavy teams. The Cavs are proving they can play sloppy defense, but blow the lights out of the Raptors by stacking up on 3-pt shooters around LeBron. It’s the same thing with the Houston Rockets, and why the Spurs are having some issues with them. Golden State isn’t built like the Cavs or the Rockets, but they also are built around the 3-pt.
Masai has to look at this team and re-build the team to fit today’s NBA. Getting Ibaka and PJ was a start – focusing on the 3&D. I think that means getting rid of JV, who is just too slow on defense to chase after stretch-5’s like Channing Frye, and too limited in his offensive game. You can still keep Lowry and DeRozan as centrepieces of the offense, but surround them with good 3&D shooters. That’s the only way we’ll be able to keep up with the rest of the league.