NBABasketblog: A dose of Raptors reality

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The Raptors are having a pretty rough season. Shocking! That's huge news to all of you, right?

After their loss to the Portland Trail Blazers last week, head coach Dwayne Casey said, "Somehow, some way, we've got to find a way to get four good quarters together."

How many times have we been treated to some variation of this response? Answer: after almost every loss. The general sentiment in the team seems to be just that: "somehow, we've got to be play better."

Their lead scorer (by a mile) Andrea Bargnani returned to the team on Tuesday night against the Phoenix Suns. Bargnani scored 36 points, and the Raptors ended their depressing losing streak with a narrow three-point victory. So it appears that the key to winning is having their leading scorer stay healthy and score 30+ points game - if only that were a realistic strategy for the rest of the season.

Think of it this way: Given the way the Raptors' bench has been performing, if Bargnani hadn't played Tuesday, Toronto likely would have lost by more than 20 points. Yikes.

At this point in the season basketball fans are likely sick of the predictable story line: "Raptors are playing terribly, must play better next game."

So instead of attempting to explain, yet again, why the Raptors are so bad, I've decided to start thinking (and writing) positively. When what you've been handed isn't so great, all you can do is look ahead and search for the light at the end of the tunnel.

In this case, that light is a high pick for the Raptors in the 2012 draft. Yes, the draft is 155 days away. But let's be realistic. Not much is going to change for Toronto's team in those 155 days. They will continue to lose and continue to leave Raptors fans and followers searching for the light.

So let's take a timeout from the woes of the Raptors and take a look and some players that you can't help but smile about.

According to ESPN.com, the No. 1 pick right now is a power forward from Kentucky, Anthony Davis. There is no doubt that Davis' numbers are impressive. He leads the Southeastern Conference in scoring (17.8 ppg), shooting percentage (68.3 per cent) and blocks (5.5 per game).

Numbers aside, he also does stuff like this:



If that doesn't make you smile, I don't know what would.

Coming in at No. 2 is UConn's Andre Drummond. The centre is another dominant force inside the paint, but his numbers are still in the single digits. He has work to do to gain strength and versatility, which could make the rebuilding Raptors a perfect spot for him to take the leap into professional ball. Followers have taken to comparing him to a young Amar'e Stoudemire.

ESPN.com currently has UNC's Harrison Barnes occupying to the No. 3 overall draft spot. Barnes plays small forward and is known to be disciplined and hard-working. His work ethic, along with his scoring abilities (17.4 ppg) would be an asset for the offensively challenged Raptors and their back-to-basics head coach Dwane Casey. Plus he'd be fun to watch, don't you think?



At No. 4, it's Kansas University forward Thomas Robinson. Are you noticing a trend? There are quite a few big men making waves in the NCAA right now. Leaves one to wonder if Amir Johnson, Bargnani (and now Jonas Valencunias) would be able to move over and make room for a first-round draft pick. Also makes one question whether or not the Raptors have any need for another tall guy...no matter how good they are.

Robinson is currently averaging almost 18 points and 12 rebounds per game. He plays a physical game under the basket and is impressively athletic for such a big guy. At the very least, we all know that Raptors could use those rebounds. Bargnani may be improving on the defensive end, but he certainly doesn't do stuff like this:



Baylor University forward Perry Jones comes in at No. 5. He as versatile as any big man in the college game. He's big and strong in the paint, but he can still shoot and handle the ball well. He would be an asset to any NBA team, and the Raptors could certainly put him to good use.

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