ESPN Panel predicts Raps to miss Playoffs with 39 W's

Chris Mannix has posted a pre-season power ranking on the Sports Illustrated website. He shows Raptors finishing far up the track in the Eastern Conference.

Of course we are behind Cavs, Celtics and Orlando but he also projects us far behind the Wizards (#8 ) and Hawks (#11). We are also behind 76ers, Pistons. Heat and Bulls.

That would leave us tenth best in the Conference and out of the playoffs again!

Here's his take:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/chris_mannix/08/25/offseason.rankings/index.html

I'm not sure why these rankings get to me but they do.

To me this reflects how dismissive the USA remains to any basketball played outside the confines of their borders. I just find it so annoying!!

If the Raps get off to a good start and are still down in the rankings... then I take it as a diss.

But I hear ya coach... to me it's just too early to be bugged by it.

I think the whole power rankings thing is ignorant.

Chris Mannix is probably bored and thought he would write this up to create some premature discussion. There's no insight to this at all.

NOW THE RANT...

American journalism all together is shoddy... especially the sports reporters. Everything is about hype, rumour, or "an unnamed source".

There are very few credible sources out there especially in the world of ESPN and SI.

There is are no comparison to guys like Doug Smith or Michael Grange.

And if anyone suggests Peter Vescey... I will hunt you down!

We did a little bit better with NBA.com

http://www.nba.com/2009/news/powerrankings/08/17/offseason.rankings/index.html

Along the same lines I think:

Cavs, Celtics and Magic are in the upper tier

Raps, Wiz, Hawks and Bulls are in the middle

Pistons, 76ers and Heat are just a shade under the middle as they all have talent but also a few significant issues. The Pistons have lost a lot of leadership and will have to incorporate new guys: CV3 who has accomplished nothing and Ben Gordon who seems more concerned about himself rather than the team. Miami's problem is that they don't have anyone next to Wade who is a threat (depending on what happens with Beasley). The 76ers will struggle to incorporate Elton Brand into their system just like they did last year. Andre Miller leaving certainly doesn't help anything.

Bucks, Bobcats, Nets, Pacers and Knicks will all likely be looking forward to getting the top pick in the 2010 draft.

So the way I see it is the Raps can finish as high as 4th but shouldn't be any lower than 7th. This of course is assuming every team stays completely healthy throughout the season.........

I can see Boston struggling a bit... health, age, ego, chemistry, pg issues (Rondo proved to be a bit of a head case). And then you got RashWeed coming into the fold. Doc Rivers has his work cut out for him.

I don't think Cleveland will be as strong as they were last year... and I said from the start... the Shaq experiment is a sign of desperation.

Orlando - well they got Vince... and good for them. I honestly would rather have Turk. Why??? Turk makes those around him better.

For any team... so much has to go right... so much can go wrong... t'will be an interesting season to say the least.

Board - I seem to recall this same discussion a year ago. It is not so important to get a good ranking in the sports journals as it is to prove those pre-season forecasts wrong. That's the task. While it is true that the american journalists are myopic and a bit biased towards the league's only non-USA team it is also true that this version of the rap must prove the doubters wrong. I think they will.

Bernie

i like that they chose to disregard the raptors in the power rankings. last year everyone was so hyped about the J.O trade that it probably hurt the mental state of the team, people expected so much but honestly it was not a move that would catapult them into the playoffs like people expected.

if people keep quiet about the raptors then maybe the players will take it on themselves to be seen and respected as a team around the league. rather than go into the season with a report saying they are "supposed" to be one of the better teams this year. a chip on their shoulders to prove that they can hang with some of the elite teams.

A panel of 53 experts polled by ESPN, see it this way:

1. Cavs
2. Celts
3. Magic
4. Hawks
5. Heat
6. Bulls
7. 76'ers
8. Wiz
9. Raps
10. Pistons
11-15 in order: Bobcats, Pacers, Knicks, Bucks, Nets

It was very tight between 76'ers Wizards and Raptors each called for 39 wins and separated by percentages.

Surely we are a .500 team at least! I see us battling Hawks for 4th with 45-46 wins.

wow give toront oa lil respect.. all i know is that raptors are gunna suprose alot of people this year

Coach C - the rap have a motivational edge with these predictions. it's ok to be under the radar...

Bernie

Okay Bernie!

I just want us to reach respectability but you achieve that in the real games not in the projected results.

I feel good about our direction but I guess the pundits to our south know better!

Its the nature of the beast! I felt good last year too and as Robbie Burns has said -- "the best laid plans of mice and men gang oft agley".

So patience, Coach Clement que sera, sera!

d'accord!

Not to worry Coach Bob at least someone down south has an open mind. See the article below by John Schuhmann.

http://www.nba.com/2009/news/features/john_schuhmann/08/24/raptors/index.html