2006–07 Toronto Raptors season

NBA season
team = Toronto Raptors
misc = First division championship
end_year = 2007
wins = 47
losses = 35
division = Atlantic
division_place = 1
conf_place = 4
coach = Sam Mitchell
arena = Air Canada Centre
owners = Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment
television = CBC, Sportsnet, The Score, TSN
radio = Fan 590
playoffs = Eastern Conference Finals (eliminated 4–2)
bbr_team = TOR

The Toronto Raptors 2006–07 season is the twelfth National Basketball Association (NBA) season for the Toronto Raptors basketball franchise. Following a poor 2005–06 season, General Manager Bryan Colangelo greatly revamped the team roster during the pre-season but continued to build the team around All-Star Chris Bosh. Despite a sluggish start, the 2006–07 season transformed into a year for Toronto. The Raptors captured their first division title, finished third in the Eastern Conference, made the playoffs for the first time in five years, equalled their best ever regular season record, and secured home court advantage for the first time in franchise history. However, the Raptors met the New Jersey Nets in the first round of the playoffs and were defeated four games to two. At the end of the regular season, head coach Sam Mitchell and Colangelo were named NBA Coach of the Year and NBA Executive of the Year respectively.

Pre-season

NBA Draft

Pre-season trades

Before the season, Toronto won the NBA Draft Lottery and were awarded the 1st overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft. To prepare for their draft choice, the Raptors traded Rafael Araujo for Kris Humphries and Robert Whaley, [ [http://www.nba.com/raptors/news/pressrelease_trade_060806.html "Raptors Acquire Kris Humphries & Robert Whaley for Araujo"] , nba.com/raptors, 8 June 2006, accessed 9 August 2007.] and traded Matt Bonner, Eric Williams and a second round pick for Rasho Nesterovič and cash considerations. [ [http://www.nba.com/raptors/news/pressrelease_062106.html "Raptors Acquire Rasho Nesterovič In Exchange for Matt Bonner, Eric Williams & a Future Second Round Pick"] , nba.com/raptors, 21 June 2006, accessed 12 April 2007.] The 1st overall pick was used to select Italian Andrea Bargnani, making him the first European drafted number one overall. [ [http://www.nba.com/playerfile/andrea_bargnani/bio.html Andrea Bargnani Info Page] , nba.com, accessed 9 August 2007.] Maurizio Gherardini was hired as the club’s vice-president and assistant general manager, making him the first European elevated to an NBA executive job. [ [http://www.nba.com/raptors/news/pressrelease_062206.html "Raptors Name Gherardini To Basketball Staff"] , nba.com/raptors, 22 June 2006, accessed 21 April 2007.] Promising small forward Charlie Villanueva was traded for point guard T. J. Ford and cash considerations, [ [http://www.nba.com/raptors/news/ford_charlie_060701.html "Raptors Pick Up Ford for Villanueva"] , nba.com/raptors, 1 July 2006, accessed 9 August 2007.] while Chris Bosh was rewarded with a three-year extension. [Ewing, Lori, [http://www.cbc.ca/cp/sports/060714/s0714102.html "Toronto Raptors re-sign star forward Chris Bosh to contract extension"] , cbc.ca, 14 July 2006, accessed 21 April 2007.]

Regular season

General Manager Bryan Colangelo continued to surround Bosh with complementary players, and signed two-time Euroleague Most Valuable Player Anthony Parker. [ [http://www.nba.com/playerfile/anthony_parker/bio.html Anthony Parker Info Page] , nba.com, accessed 25 April 2007.] Spanish international Jorge Garbajosa and former slam dunk champion Fred Jones were also signed from free agency. The Raptors concluded pre-season transactions by re-signing veteran Darrick Martin. With this new lineup, Toronto looked to maintain a team who could both pass and shoot the ball, but was also stronger defensively than the 2005–06 roster.Smalls, Anthony, [http://www.nba.com/aroundtheassociation/raptors_revival.html "The Rebirth of the Raptors"] , nba.com, 12 April 2007, accessed 25 April 2007.] As a showcase of their new roster, on 15 October 2006, the 119 points by Toronto marked the third highest total in a pre-season game in franchise history. [ [http://www.nba.com/raptors/news/notes_101506.html Post-Game Notes] , nba.com/raptors, 15 October 2006, accessed 9 August 2007.] The Raptors finished the pre-season with a 7–1 win-loss record, which was the best record in the league and a franchise record. [ [http://www.vividseats.com/nba/toronto-raptors-tickets.html Toronto Raptors Season Update] , vividseats.com, accessed 25 April 2007.]

Push for playoffs

The first half of the season produced mixed results as Toronto struggled towards the .500 mark after a dismal 2–8 start. Bosh's consistent performances however ensured he was named an All-Star starter in the 2007 NBA All-Star Game on 25 January 2007. He received the most number of votes after LeBron James among all Eastern Conference forwards. [ [http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2007/01/25/nba-allstar-starters.html "Raptors voted all-star starter"] cbc.ca, 25 January 2007, accessed 25 April 2007.] A day later, the Raptors hit the .500 mark for the first time since the 2003–04 season after defeating the Boston Celtics at the Air Canada Centre. [ [http://www.nba.com/raptors/news/postup_012607.html Raptors Post Up] , nba.com/raptors, 26 January 2007, accessed 21 April 2007.] On 2 February, the Raptors went 24–23, the first time since 2001–02 that they had been over .500 this late in a season. [ [http://www.nba.com/raptors/news/postup_020207.html Raptors Post Up] , nba.com/raptors, 2 February 2007, accessed 25 April 2007.] As a result, the Raptors won three NBA Eastern Conference awards for the month of January: Player of the Month (Bosh), [ [http://www.nba.com/raptors/news/bosh_020107.html "Bosh named Eastern Conference Player of the Month"] , nba.com/raptors, 2 February 2007, accessed 25 April 2007.] Rookie of the Month (Bargnani) [ [http://www.nba.com/raptors/news/bargnani_020107.html "Bargnani named Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month"] , nba.com/raptors, 2 February 2007, accessed 25 April 2007.] and Coach of the Month (Sam Mitchell). [ [http://www.nba.com/raptors/news/mitchell_020107.html "Mitchell named Eastern Conference Coach of the Month"] , nba.com/raptors, 2 February 2007, accessed 21 April 2007.] On 4 February, the Raptors' 122–110 home win against the Los Angeles Clippers represented a season-high in points for the Raptors. [ [http://www.nba.com/raptors/news/notes_020407.html Post-Game Notes] , nba.com/raptors, 4 February 2007, accessed 19 March 2007.] Within the same week, Bosh's career-high 41 points in a win against the Orlando Magic prompted an unprecedented event at the Air Canada Centre—chants of "MVP" by the home fans. [Smith, Doug, [http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/179518 "Bosh's career-high 41 sparks 'M-V-P' chant"] , thestar.com, 7 February 2007, accessed 21 April 2007.] This chant was repeated in a win against Vince Carter's New Jersey Nets on Valentine's Day—to the disbelief of Carter—a game which also saw the team break franchise records for most number of home wins and highest home winning percentage entering the All-Star break. [ [http://www.nba.com/raptors/news/postup_021407.html Raptors Post Up] , nba.com/raptors, 14 February 2007, accessed 21 April 2007.] [ [http://www.nba.com/raptors/news/notes_021407.html Post-Game Notes] , nba.com/raptors, 14 February 2007, accessed 21 April 2007.]

After the break, Colangelo traded Jones for Juan Dixon, a versatile guard. [ [http://www.nba.com/raptors/news/PR__dixon_022107.html "Raptors Acquire Juan Dixon in Exchange for Fred Jones"] , nba.com/raptors, 21 February 2007, accessed 21 April 2007.] Luke Jackson was also signed to provide depth to Toronto's bench. [ [http://www.nba.com/raptors/news/jacksoncp_041407.html Raptors Sign Jackson] , nba.com/raptors, 14 April 2007, accessed 6 June 2007.] Following a win against the Charlotte Bobcats on 1 April 2007, Toronto clinched a playoff berth for the first time in five years. [Ulmer, Mike, [http://www.nba.com/raptors/news/ulmer_040107.html "Raptors Clinch Playoff Spot"] , nba.com/raptors, 5 April 2007, accessed 21 April 2007.] They then claimed their first division title when they defeated the Philadelphia 76ers five days later, winning the Atlantic Division crown. [Grange, Michael, [http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070406.wspt-raps-early 06/GSStory/GlobeSportsBasketball/home "Raptors claim first division crown"] , globesports.com, 6 April 2007, accessed 25 April 2007.] Another franchise record was set when Toronto won the next game against the Bulls, this time for most home wins. [Christie, James, [http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070408.wspt-raptors-bulls08/GSStory/GlobeSportsBasketball/home "Raptors keep charging along"] , globesports.com, 8 April 2007, accessed 25 April 2007.]

The Raptors were eventually seeded third in the Eastern Conference, marking one of the biggest turnarounds in NBA history in terms of league standing and defensive ranking. [Pelton, Kevin, [http://www.nba.com/sonics/news/preview070311.html "Insider Preview - Sonics at Toronto"] , nba.com/sonics, 11 March 2007, accessed 25 April 2007.] Throughout the season, they were lauded for playing solid defense and good sharing and moving of the ball. [Schuhmann, John, [http://www.nba.com/features/schuhmann.html "Testing the Bosh Theory"] , nba.com, 23 March 2007, accessed 25 April 2007.] José Calderón, Bargnani, Dixon and Morris Peterson turned in reliable performances from the bench while Ford and Bosh ran the offence with consistent numbers. And in Parker and Garbajosa, the Raptors had two very versatile players who could both defend and attack. [Smith, Dough, [http://www.thestar.com/article/180347 "Raptors knock off Lakers"] , thestar.com, 10 February 2007, accessed 21 April 2007.] [ [http://www.nba.com/raptors/news/postup_032607.html Raptors Post Up] , nba.com/raptors, 26 March 2007, accessed 21 April 2007.] [Ulmer, Mark, [http://www.nba.com/raptors/news/ulmerrecap_042407.html "The One They Needed"] , nba.com/raptors, 24 April 2007, accessed 25 April 2007.] Furthermore, in contrast to previous seasons, the Raptors were able to win games despite injuries to key players such as Bosh, Bargnani, Parker, Ford and Garbajosa. [Grange, Michael "Parker's return buoys Raptors", "The Globe and Mail", 9 March 2007.] [Smith, Doug, "Parker's return a boost to Raps", "Toronto Star", 10 March 2007.] Colangelo, Gherardini and Mitchell were also largely credited for transforming Toronto's fortunes. [Feschuk, Dave, [http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/205725 "Italian building block"] , thestar.com, 21 April 2007, accessed 21 April 2007.]

Final standings

Playoffs

As third seed, the Raptors played sixth seed New Jersey Nets in the first round of the 2007 NBA Playoffs. The series drew much media attention as Vince Carter, a former Raptor who left Toronto under acrimonious circumstances two seasons ago, was now back at the ACC as a Net. [http://www.nba.com/raptors/news/postup_042107.html Raptors Post Up] , nba.com/raptors, 21 April 2007, accessed 26 April 2007.] In the opening game, while Carter was constantly booed by the home crowd and was not an offensive threat, Toronto's inexperience was evident as they too struggled offensively and were down 65–78 going into the fourth quarter. A late rally by Toronto in the fourth quarter was not enough as they eventually lost 91–96. The Raptors won game 2 89–83 at the ACC to tie the series up 1–1, as Bosh recorded 25 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. [Grange, Michael, [http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070424.wsptraptors24/GSStory/GlobeSportsBasketball/home "Back to square one as Raptors even the series"] , globesports.com, 24 April 2007, accessed 25 April 2007.] The Nets won games 3 and 4 to lead 3–1, but Toronto forced a game 6 when they narrowly won 98–96 in game 5. [ [http://www.nba.com/raptors/news/postup_050107.html Raptors Post Up] , nba.com/raptors, 1 May 2007, accessed 2 May 2007.] In that game, the Raptors set two post-season franchise records: most number of points going into halftime and biggest lead for a half. [ [http://www.nba.com/raptors/news/notes_050107.html Post-Game Notes] , nba.com/raptors, 1 May 2007, accessed 2 May 2007.] The attendance for the game was also a franchise record for a playoff game. [Blair, Jeff, "Raptors stave off elimination", "The Globe and Mail", 1 May 2007.] In game 6 however, New Jersey won 98–97, sealing the series 4–2 and sending Toronto out of the first round. [ [http://www.nba.com/raptors/news/postup_050407.html Raptors Post Up] , nba.com/raptors, 4 May 2007, accessed 21 June 2007.]

In recognition of being the chief architects of Toronto's turnaround season, on 24 April 2007, Mitchell was named 2006–07 NBA Coach of the Year, the first Raptors coach to receive this honour; [ [http://www.nba.com/raptors/news/samcoy_042407.html "Sam Mitchell Named 2006-07 Coach of the Year"] , nba.com/raptors, 24 April 2007, accessed 25 April 2007.] Colangelo was later named 2006–07 Executive of the Year. [ [http://www.nba.com/raptors/news/colangelo_eoy051407.html Colangelo Named 2006-07 NBA Executive Of The Year] , nba.com/raptors, 14 May 2007, accessed 16 May 2007.]

Playoffs: First Round

New Jersey Nets 4, Toronto Raptors 2

ee also

*2006-07 NBA season

External links

* [http://www.nba.com/raptors/news/raptors_splash.html Official Raptors home page]

References