Raptors Media Day The NBA is full of talent, personality and suspense. During the offseason, It’s easy to forget how wonderful the league can be. So, I’ve assembled 67 Reasons I’m Excited For Next Season (67RIEFNS). They’ll be presented in no particular order.
Last year, a 21-year-old Jonas Valanciunas posted 11.3 points on 53.1 percent shooting with 8.8 rebounds per game. Just seven other players have posted those numbers at such a young age:
- Buck Williams
- Shaquille O’Neal
- Chris Webber
- Tim Duncan
- Dwight Howard
- Andrew Bynum
- Andre Drummond
All of them – with the exception of Drummond, who seems like a lock – became All-Stars. There’s good reason to believe the Raptors’ center will follow suit.
Valanciunas is a skilled interior scorer. He has excellent hands and good footwork, seemingly making it easy for him to create opportunities in the post.
Toronto just didn’t get him the ball enough last year. It’s on Kyle Lowry to feed Valanciunas more often this year.
If that happens, that All-Star berth could happen sooner than later – for both.
The Raptors exceeded expectations last year. Now imagine what happens if they take full advantage of, arguably, their highest-upside player.
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- ruffridin - Oct 27, 2014 at 9:22 PM
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Atlantic Division Champs this year with a loss to the Cavs in the eastern finals. Wethenorth
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- ranfan12 - Oct 27, 2014 at 10:51 PM
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Bobcats got this. It’s their time to shine in the ECF. No more 1st round miami induced exits
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- hannsta - Oct 27, 2014 at 9:35 PM
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This title is the exact phrasing I used to justify picking him up with 5 sec to go on my draft pick in fantasy. It better be true.
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- rumbleg - Oct 27, 2014 at 10:15 PM
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The Beasts of the East!
(for you sportsfan2)
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- 00maltliquor - Oct 28, 2014 at 1:46 AM
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He was on the verge of a break through last year……
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- ranfan12 - Oct 28, 2014 at 2:16 AM
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He’s just gotta keep at it. Once you give it a little rest, the verge gauge goes down a little.
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- 00maltliquor - Oct 28, 2014 at 2:21 AM
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Honestly, it almost doesn’t matter what he does, he does even slightly better, he’s holding his team hostage for max. That’s the common trend amongst this new age NBA.
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- ranfan12 - Oct 28, 2014 at 12:43 PM
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Wow, didn’t know it was that bad
