NBA JAM: TORONTO RAPTORS

In our continuing rundown on the NBA season, Neil Acharya looks at the Atlantic Division, specifically the Toronto Raptors.

Last season: 27-55, 12th in Eastern Conference
Coach: Sam Mitchell
New faces: Better you mention who's still left from last year -- Morris Peterson and Chris Bosh are the only returning starters
Funny-looking white guy: This award will never be bestowed in honour of Matt Bonner
Blogs: RaptorBlog

The letter C is symbolic for the Raptors and their fans. It's the last name of our one-time saviour, who shall remain nameless. It's the first letter in the first name of our new saviour, Chris Bosh, and it’s the initial of Bryan Colangelo, the Raps president and GM.

At a golf tournament a while back, Colangelo showed off some of the new players he picked up. One of the most significant things to happen that day was when Colangelo handed off No.15 to reserve centre Jorge Garbajosa. This simple gesture was in fact a grand statement by the astute and soon to be best dressed in Toronto nominee, Colangelo.

Firstly, it marks the dawn of a new era, where hard work and playing as a team is at the core of Raptor basketball, as embodied by lunch-pail types such as Garbajosa. Secondly, the Raptors will no longer live in the shadow of you-know-who, the guy we traded to New Jersey.

When then-GM Rob Babcock traded away the old No. 15 in December 2004, he thought he was getting rid of his biggest problem. The shadow, the stench of futility, the backroom grumblings and so many other negative vibes never left the team. They lingered and stung the Raptors every time That Guy came back and acted like the ACC was his house, as if it would have never been built without him there.

Well, that’s all behind the Raptors and their fans, starting tomorrow with the season opener in, wait for it, New Jersey. T.J. Ford, touted as one of the fasted players in the NBA will drive the offense at point guard. He arrived in a surprise off season move that sent promising forward Charlie Villenueva to the Bucks.

Another newcomer, Anthony Parker will play shooting guard. Colangelo has high hopes for the man that led Maccabi Tel Aviv to an exhibition win over the Raptors, just one season ago. Colangelo and Raptor fans have a good feeling about the man who was King of the Euro leagues over the past few seasons. Fred Jones will play back up, a role he has been used to in Indiana where he has improved greatly over the past two seasons.

Along with Bosh, Morris Peterson is the only other returning starter. On a team with no defence and lack of drive last season, Peterson had both. He should benefit since the new-look Raptors will look to him to fill a role, rather than be all things to the team.

Chris Bosh came into his own last year as he doubled as a centre and power forward. Bosh has a contract extension and despite coming into the league as a 19-year-old a couple years ago, he has matured quickly amidst the gong show that the Raptors occasionally were before Colangelo came in from the desert.

Bosh's development meant the Raptors really didn’t have a lot of pressure on draft day -- although of course, the haters in the media spun it that it was typical of the Raptors that when they lucked into the No. 1 overall pick, it would have to come in a year where there was no drop-dead top pick. The man they selected, 20-year-old Italian Andrea Bargnani, shoots uncannily well for a big man and just needs time to develop.

Centre Rasho Nestorovic, acquired from San Antonio in the Matt Bonner deal, is being counted on to shore up the team’s rebounding.

The upshot for the Raptors is there’s genuine hope around this team for the first time since anyone can remember. They’re going to lose their fair share of games, but like the Blue Jays, they can give Boston a run for second place in their division.

This year, look for Chuck Swirsky to announced, "Pull out the salami and cheese, Raptors win, Raptors win, Raptors win!" much more than in the past two seasons. While he's at it, start scrapping away that other C -- the one cynics used to add on before the R in Raptors.

Also in Atlantic Division: Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers

That's all for now. Send your thoughts to neil__acharya@hotmail.com.