Insider Special: Best/Worst ~ Raptors

[Weez]

It all starts with Vince's knee

By Terry Brown

NBA Insider

Monday, October 20

Updated: October 21

7:23 AM ET

The sooner Vince Carter gets back to being Vince Carter, the slower the Raptors will be to to rush Lamond Murray back from injury, Chris Bosh into the starting line up and Antonio Davis and his family to the airport with their bags packed.

And, the sooner the Raptors will get back to being Eastern Conference contenders.

Toronto Raptors

Point guard Exp Ht '02-03 Stats Notes

Alvin Williams 6 6-5 13.2 ppg,

5.3 apg When the Toronto Raptors needed Alvin William most, he was never more productive. The problem, though, is that Williams was shining because Vince Carter's knee was flickering out, and we're not sure yet if we've gotten a better point guard or just more of the same one. We've seen what he can do with more minutes, more shots, more responsibility. Now, with Carter back, we'll see if he can have the same impact with less of all three.

Milt Palacio 4 6-3 5 ppg,

3.2 apg Eight starts spread out over five teams in five years.

Rick Brunson 6 6-4 3.5 ppg,

1.1 apg Twelve starts spread out over six teams in seven years.

Shooting guard Exp Ht '02-03 Stats Notes

Vince Carter 5 6-6 20.6 ppg,

4.4 rpg Love Vince Carter or hate him, the NBA is that much less of a league without him on SportsCenter every other night. And if you don't think so, take one look at the boxscore and realize that, when injured to extent unknown, he still has averaged 23 a game over the last two shortened seasons while we've been reading him his last rites. We want more than just the numbers.

Michael Curry 9 6-5 3 ppg,

1.6 rpg Started the last three seasons for the Pistons and never averaged more than 5.2 points in a season. But four years ago, he came off the bench for them and scored 6.2 points a game on a career-high 48 percent shooting. Good defender should do well in reserve.

Small forward Exp Ht '02-03 Stats Notes

Mo Peterson 3 6-7 14.1 ppg,

4.4 rpg Like Williams, numbers jumped when Carter staggered. But unlike Williams, they expected to get more production out of this guy with or without Vince, anyway. Remember, fair or not, he was supposed to fill Tracy McGrady's shoes when the disgruntled cousin bolted. Let's hope he can fit both feet in at least one of them this year.

Chris Jefferies 1 6-8 3.9 ppg,

1.2 rpg Young gun will spend more time fighting for minutes with the guy behind him than he will fighting the guy ahead of him for starting nods.

Lamond Murray 8 6-7 injured It has been almost a year since Murray busted his foot and was forced to sit out the entire season, meaning it's been almost two seasons since he began the most productive season of his career. From the Clippers to the Cavs, this guy is either cursed or long overdue for something good to happen.

Power forward Exp Ht '02-03 Stats Notes

Jerome Williams 7 6-9 9.7 ppg,

9.2 rpg Best season as a pro was last season, but even so, a better reserve than starter and happy to be playing in the Eastern Conference. Lot of heart, lot of hustle, and will need all of it just to keep the position warm for Chris Bosh.

Michael Bradley 2 6-10 5 ppg,

6.1 rpg Do-or-die season with team holding next season's option. We'll send flowers.

Chris Bosh R 6-10 -- You've heard of LeBron, Darko and Carmelo. The Raptors hope that by the end of the season, you'll only need one name to recognize this kid, too. Averaging almost 12 points and 8 boards during the preseason, placing him third and first on the team, respectively, in those categories.

Jerome Moiso 3 6-10 4 ppg,

3.5 rpg Eleventh pick gone bust. Is playing for his fourth team in four seasons and still looking for his second start. Not in this lifetime.

Center Exp Ht '02-03 Stats Notes

Antonio Davis 10 6-9 13.9 ppg,

8.2 rpg Not sure if it's the city or the coaching staff or the front office that makes this guy want to ditch this team so bad, or if it even matters since he voluntarily signed up for the gig and the $60 million that came with it two years ago. Numbers aren't bad, but could be better if he just smiled every once in awhile.

Mengke Bateer 2 6-11 0.8 ppg,

0.8 rpg The good news is that he played an entire season with the San Antonio Spurs last year, supposedly learning under Tim Duncan and David Robinson. The bad news is that those guys didn't even think he was valuable enough to put him on the playoff roster.

Ken Johnson 1 6-11 2 ppg,

2 apg Hoping to play the 157th minute of his career at any moment.