The 2019 NBA Championship seems like a lifetime ago for Raptors fans, but brighter days are ahead! NBA Analyst Esfandiar Baraheni stops by to tell me why that’s the case. We start off by recapping last season. There were a LOT of moves made as the organization essentially pressed the “reset” button. What did those moves look like and what do they tell us about where the team wants to go?
Then, it seems clear they want to build around young star Scottie Barnes. Es tells me how Barnes was able to bounce back from a tough 2nd year, what else he needs to work on, and why it’s tough to pin down exactly what he could end up being as a player. We also talk about how Scottie fits into Coach Darko Rajakovic’s system, and zoom out to discuss the system as a whole.
We move on and talk about some of the pieces Es thinks could play a big role in this team’s future, starting with Gradey Dick. Could he take a leap this year? And why is he the perfect fit next to Scottie? Then, we break down the entire roster. What can you expect the rotation to look like and what is the organization going to be looking for as they decide how to navigate this rebuild?
We stop and take a necessary detour down memory lane and talk about the role the Raptors played in our individual fandom. I also get Es’ thoughts on the mending of fences between former franchise star Vince Carter and the organization. We also talk about the beauty of following a team as they’re trying to build a contender.
Then, we talk about this year’s rookie class, the moves Es anticipates the team could make, and he gives us his prediction for the season! Tap in for all that and more!
For more from Esfandiar Baraheni, follow him on Twitter at https://x.com/JustEsBaraheni
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The Rundown:
00:00 Intro
01:46 Recapping last season
05:09 The resurgent Scottie Barnes
10:21 Coach Darko
12:15 Gradey Dick
16:30 This year’s rotation
23:46 Vin-sanity
32:00 This year’s rookie class
37:20 Reasons for excitement
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Beyond The Arc with Brandon Silvers breaks down today's hottest sports topics in a way that makes sense whether you're a rookie or a vet! Tune in to hear in-depth analysis, unique commentary, and more! Follow BTA on Twitter @BeyondTheArc843! For more from Brandon, follow him on Twitter @1brandonsilvers and on Instagram @thebrandonsilvers!