Barbosa key to Raptors' team concept
Basketball Betting Lines
07/19/2010 -
Toronto, Canada (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Toronto Raptors are moving in a new
direction, the focus no longer on the talents of Chris Bosh, but on a
collective approach to playing the game.
Bosh recently joined LeBron James and Dwyane Wade in Miami, leaving a giant
hole in the Raptors' front court, a 24-point and 10-rebound-per-game hole that
general manager Bryan Colangelo has been working feverishly to fill.
With Bosh out of the picture, the dynamics of the team will shift immensely and
Colangelo has made it known that speed, athleticism and depth will become the
hallmarks of the organization going forward.
With the long-anticipated trade that sent Hedo Turkoglu to the Phoenix Suns for
Leandro Barbosa completed last week, the transformation process has begun.
The 27-year- old Barbosa fits to a tee the type of player the Raptors will need
to employ if they plan to successfully implement their new approach on the
hardwood.
"His speed, quickness and scoring ability will mesh well with our desired
playing style and talented young athletes,' said Colangelo in a news release
following the trade.
"With the departure of Chris Bosh now real, this trade fits well with our plan
of adding talent to the roster while establishing future salary cap
flexibility."
Known as "The Brazilian Blur" because of his neck-breaking speed, the six-foot-
three, 202-pound combo guard made a career out of backing up two-time MVP Steve
Nash in Phoenix, while adding even more valuable minutes by his side at
shooting guard.
During the 2006-07 season, his best as a pro, Barbosa averaged an impressive
18.1 points, 4.0 assists while sporting a .434 shooting percentage from three-
point territory, numbers that landed him the NBA's sixth man of the year
honors.
The 2009-10 campaign was a tough one for Barbosa. Hampered by a wrist injury
that would eventually require surgery in January, he averaged only
9.5 points and 1.5 assists in 44 games last season in an off year for the Sau
Paulo native.
If healthy, expect him to take a central role on a young Raptors squad where he
will fit in nicely beside up-tempo wingmen DeMar DeRozan and Sonny Weems.
Colangelo's plan to re-tool the roster took another leap forward with the re-
signing of multipurpose man Amir Johnson to a five-year $34-million-dollar
deal. Johnson could end up being a bargain down the road, as there are few
Raptors that can run and rebound with his tenacity.
Linas Kleiza, 24, of the Denver Nuggets is another player that may suit up with
the Raptors next season, as the Nuggets are not expected to match an offer
sheet put forward by Colangelo. Boasting a dynamic skill set, the six-foot-
eight, 245-pounder could vie for a starting job next year at either small
forward or power forward.
Add six-foot-11 rookie power forward Ed Davis and the Raptors are in the midst
of building a roster full of tough and athletic bodies, capable of success at
multiple positions.
Ultimately, it will be up to head coach Jay Triano to capitalize on this new
depth and roster flexibility while employing a balanced scoring attack.
Barbosa's speed, vision and scoring ability will be an integral to that end, as
the Raptors aim to succeed by running teams out of the gym next season.
With Bosh no longer the team's offensive security blanket, the door is wide
open for a facilitator to take charge, and Barbosa may be just the player to
jump into that role.
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