Toronto Raptors roundtable: Offensive, defensive rank and breakout players

The Toronto Raptors season is quickly approaching. We decided to ask the season’s most important questions to all of our contributors. Here is the Raptors Roundtable, part one.

The Toronto Raptors season is almost here. With that in mind, we decided to ask all of our contributors their thoughts on the biggest questions heading into the season. Here is our Raptors Roundtable, part one.

It looks like Toronto will experiment with JV coming off the bench at points this season, is this a good idea?

Gavin Axelrod:

JV as a member of the bench mob? I’m all for it. Having him come off the bench will allow Valanciunas to conserve energy and maximize his minutes.

Mark Birdsell:

Based on the Raptors’ rotations during the preseason, it is clear that Nick Nurse only wants to have one traditional big on the floor at any given time.

Jonas Valanciunas and Serge Ibaka do not make sense as a frontcourt pairing in the modern NBA. When both players are on the floor together, Ibaka is forced out to the perimeter, negating his shot blocking and rebounding. With Jakob Poeltl now in San Antonio, it makes sense to move one of these players to the bench. I would start Valanciunas over Ibaka.

Valanciunas is not the shot blocker that Ibaka is, but he is better equipped to bang with opposing centers. Valanciunas is a strong rebounder. He is also becoming a better passer.

Ibaka, on the other hand, has regressed over the past few seasons. Nurse may be concerned that moving Ibaka to the bench would impact his ego and his game even more.

Assuming Valanciunas comes off the bench, he will fill Poeltl’s role with the bench mob. The Raptors had the best benches in the league last season. Valanciunas has always been a team player. He says the right things and has consistently stated that all that matters is winning. Whether Valanciunas starts or comes off the bench, he will still be a major contributor this season.

 Rizzla:

It is perfectly understandable that Nick Nurse believes that Serge Ibaka is no longer suited to play power forward in today’s NBA.

While Jonas Valanciunas will be our teams top offensive option at the position, our best defensive lineup will feature Serge Ibaka at the five.

Deploying game plan specific starting fives is nothing new in the NBA and if utilized correctly it can prove to be a sound strategy.

I am not however thrilled with the prospect that the two big men could end up canceling each other out and garnering 25-28 minutes per contest leaving neither the opportunity to reach their true potential as a ‘starter’.