<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Chutney @ Aug 5 2008, 09:54 AM)
<{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Lavalamp @ Aug 4 2008, 04:49 PM)
<{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Chutney @ Aug 4 2008, 12:30 PM)
<{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Would that made shot protect him from the numerous injuries he had the next 3-4 seasons? VC's fall from grace didn't happen because of that missed shot. It was his inability to replicate that level of performance at any other point in his career that did.</div>
Maybe they could have signed some better players? lol
Just looking at the stats, the Raptors had a pretty pathetic roster, even though they practically beat Phili and probably would have beaten the Bucks.
Top 8 players:
1. Vince Carter -
27.6 ppg 46% FG%, 41%, 3FG%, 5.5 rpg, 3.9 apg, 2.2 TOpg.
2. Antonio Davis - 32 year old
6-9 PF playing center shooting
43%, playing 36 mpg.
3. Alvin Williams - starting point guard 9.8 ppg on 43% FG%, and 30.6% 3 point%, 5 apg.
4. Charles Oakley - 37 year old shooting
38.8% FG% for a PF!!!! starting and playing 36 mpg.
5. Morris Peterson - rookie SG, playing 22 mpg.
6. Keon Clark - boozes up and dissappears from the league like 3-4 years later
7. Dell Curry - role player shooting
42.4% FG%
8. Tracy Murray - 5.4 ppg decent 3 point shooter, 36% from 3, but only 39.9% FG%
Sidenote: I'm curious any players putting up the same ppg, rpg, and apg with as much efficiency in FG%, 3FG%, and TOpg. (2.2 TOpg is pretty low)
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That's a bit of an oversimplification IMO. That roster was built to complement a superstar player like VC. There's no denying Carter carried the team, but he he was able to save himself for the offensive end because he was surrounded with very good defenders and complementary players. Antonio Davis was one of the better rebounders in the league and always stepped up in the playoffs (he averaged 17 and 10 on 45% shooting in those playoffs). Oakley stuck it to opposing teams and made sure they didn't cheapshot Carter (something he had to deal with constantly when they dealt Oak). Alvin averaged 12 and 6 that year, but no one's assist numbers were ever going to be very high when the offense was designed to isolate Vince. His defense was where his impact was felt. I look at that roster as a better version of what the Cavs have tried to do with Lebron: tough veterans and defensively-oriented role players that allowed the superstar to do what he did best. The Sixers team we lost to was built the same way.
The problem arose when we overpaid to keep those players after one promising playoff run.
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If it's better than the Cavs roster, which players would you take over who:
Big Z or Antonio Davis at center?
Ben Wallace or Charles Oakley at PF?
Wally Szcerbiak or rookie Mo Pete at SG/SF?
Delonte West or Alvin Williams? (Williams gets .5 more apg, but shoots 31% from 3 as opposed to 35.6% from Delonte)
Varajao or Keon Clark?
Daniel Gibson or Tracy Murray?
Devin Brown or Michael Curry?
Or look at the current Raptors roster, would you trade anyone from the 2007-08 team for anyone from the 2000 team?
Antonio Davis for JO?
Charles Oakley for Andrea Bargnani?
Anthony Parker for rookie Mo Pete?
Jose Calderon for Alivin Williams?
Moon for Keon Clark?
Jason Kapono for Tracy Murray?
Joey Graham or Michael Curry?
http://www.nba.com/raptors/stats/2007/index.html
I would also bet that there has never been a combination of two starters at PF and C, playing at least 35 mpg in the last 30 years that shot 38.8% and 43%.