Burning Questions Each Raptor Will Have To Answer – Part 1

It has been a long summer, but the regular season is approaching. In a bit over two months, the Toronto Raptors will begin the 2013-2014 campaign; and many questions faced by the players on this roster will be answered in due time. Each of the starters will have to cope with different challenges that will end up playing a significant role in determining the level of this franchise’s success this season.

Kyle Lowry, PG: Is he right for Dwane Casey’s offense?

Though Lowry had some occasional instances of genius, his disputes with coach Casey were well documented during his first season as a Toronto Raptor. When healthy, Lowry was spending most of the 2012-2013 season attempting to find a balance between being a tad bit too passive and playing overly-aggressive. Due to this relatively unpredictable play, some argued that Dwane Casey was not utilizing his starting point guard properly, while others argued that Kyle Lowry simply was not meant to hold the starting position. After the trade of Jose Calderon, Lowry was given a guaranteed spot among the first five Raptors to take the floor every night. Unfortunately, this hasn’t resolved the relationship with his head coach. Lowry definitely needs to get back to playing like a stud as he did back in Houston – the season is the time to find out whether that will happen.

DeMar DeRozan, SG: Can he develop a consistent 3PT shot?

This is an obvious question that has latched itself onto DeMar DeRozan for a couple seasons now, but it has never been as apparent as it has become over the past few months. Since the acquisition of Rudy Gay at the end of January, the go-to argument for Raptors critics has been long range shooting from the wing positions. It can be argued that DeRozan and Gay are redundant players because of their similar play styles. The only sure fire way to put an end to this notion is for one of the two to become a reliable shooter. It’s that simple. Not only would developing a 3PT shot add a facet to DeRozan’s game (seeing as he is already an athletic slasher and a decent mid-range shooter), but it would also open up the floor for his teammates; resulting in opponents respecting his deep jumper, rather than simply packing the paint against Toronto. The bottom line is this is DeRozan’s next step and he would be absolutely deadly with extended range.

Rudy Gay, SF: Is he really a number-one option?

Ignoring the size of his contract for a second, it is not difficult to see that Rudy Gay is a formidable small forward in the NBA. He is a good talent to have, but is he really ready to be a “franchise guy” for a full 82-game season? The answer to this question should be given to Raptors fans and followers alike before the trade deadline; especially with a general manager like Masai Ujiri at the helm. When Gay first arrived in Toronto, he was like a breath of fresh air with his game winning shots and his big plays; but the main gripe was his lack of well-rounded production and his inefficiency on the court. In fact, a recent ESPN discussion found Rudy Gay to be the most overrated small forward in all of the NBA. Coming off of an eye procedure to repair his vision, Gay will definitely be entering the season with something to prove for his critics. He’s never had a chance to be a #1 option before – can he do it?

Amir Johnson, PF: Has he peaked as an NBA player?

Though not the most talented player on the roster, Amir Johnson has been heralded by many as the MVP of the Toronto Raptors’ 2012-2013 season. Night in and night out, Johnson left it all the court. He played through pain, and he was the glue that held everything together. Can he do it again this year? Amir Johnson entered last season with an improved jumpshot, and an improved sense of awareness when it came to limiting his fouls. At the tender age of 26, Johnson is a rare commodity of sorts, with eight seasons of NBA experience already under his belt. Everyone knows that he’s a hard worker, but it’s difficult to predict to what component of his game will improve this time around. Could it be possible that he’s hit his ceiling? Will he ever be better than a high energy big?

Jonas Valanciunas, C: Will his improvement be enough to get Toronto over the hump?

Following a rookie campaign that showed tons of promise, Jonas Valanciunas enters the 2013-2014 season with somewhat of a chip on his shoulder. After absolutely dominating the NBA Las Vegas Summer League and earning MVP honours, the Lithuanian big man will look to continue to take the league by storm during his sophomore effort this year. With an array of new post moves, a reliable jumper, a killer head fake, and a noticeable addition of muscle, the play of this young center will be vital to the amount of prosperity that the Toronto Raptors reach this season. Obviously, many of us are hoping that Valanciunas’ play can really elevate this team not only in the present, but in the future too. How much improvement should we look forward to seeing right now though?