Calderon Ready for Return to Form

Even after all the acquisitions this summer by Brian Colangelo one thing remains constant:  The key to success this season is not whether Hedo Turkoglu can spark the offense or whether Demar Derozan becomes the next “Air Canada”.  This year will really come down to whether or not Jose Calderon is ready to lead this team to the “promised land”.

Last season Jose came to training camp having been cemented as the staring point guard and came in with a huge new contract and was coming off a successful summer with the Spanish National team.  He also came in as the sole leader of the team as TJ Ford was sent out of town.  He was expected to carry this team on his back and lead them back to the playoffs.

Instead of a season full of highs it was full of lows.  He saw his production limited as he only averaged 12.8 ppg and 8.9 assists.  Decent numbers, career highs in fact, but still far from what was supposed to be.  He was injured for long stretches of the season and only played in 68 games leaving much of the point guard work to Will Solomon and Roko Ukic.  His defensive breakdowns on the perimeter gave raptor fans fits all season and was a major reason the Raptors lost games.

When he returned from injury he was much more productive and led the team with energy and enthusiasm but barely got any rest as Jay Triano could not trust the team in the hands of Solomon and Ukic for large stretches of time. His defense improved with a healthy hamstring but he was still considered a weak link on the Raptors defense. The Raptors were a disorganized mess for much of the season and the team missed the playoffs as a result.  Not the season that Calderon, or Colangelo, had originally envisioned.

Calderon’s injury issues were a major factor in his struggles during the first half of the season and nothing is more important than making sure Calderon is healthy and ready for the full season.  Jay Triano recently told the Fan590,  “The most important thing is to have him out there for a full 82 games because we’re a better team when he’s on the floor.”

This summer Calderon has been active in resting and rehabilitating his hamstring and index finger, which he had surgery on during the off-season.  He refused to, or was convinced by Brian Colangelo not to,  play for Spain in this summers European championships in order to get himself prepared for the upcoming season.  He appears focused and intent on doing whatever it takes to lead the Raptors to new heights this season.

According to Doug Smith the Raps point guard has the right attitude towards this upcoming season as well.  “It’s very important for our team that I am better… I know I can compete against all the point guards in the league.”  He also admitted that he has been working on his shortcomings as a player and is focused on improving his game, specifically on the defensive end.  “I can be faster…I can be better”. With an attitude like that Jose seems geared up to lead the new look Raptors back to the playoffs.

Jose looks to improve on a disappointing season

Colangelo has supplied Calderon with possibly the most potent collection of players for the pass-first point guard to spread the ball around to since Calderon has been with the Raptors.  Not only that but, with the acquisition of Jarrett Jack and Hedo Turkoglu, Colangelo has ensured that his point guard will receive adequate rest this coming season as well, something he was unable to do last season.  Both Turkoglu and Jack can run the offence and create for their teammates.  This extra flexibility allows Calderon the freedom to rest during the game and not have to worry about rushing back in.  It also ensures that Jose can give the ball up to other playmakers and focus on one of his strong points: shooting.  He averaged 49.7% shooting last season and was a 40% 3-pt shooter.  With the new additions this summer he will be free more often to receive passes than being the only one dishing them out.

Calderon has also been working on improving aspects of his game specifically his perimeter defense and his ability to quickly lead the Raptors down the floor in transition.  This doesn’t seem to be a concern for  Jay Triano who when asked about Calderons’ shortcomings said, “Jose is always going to be cautious but I think the one thing that we have liked about him since we drafted him is that he understands and learns and  gets better at anything we ask him to do.  We told him we wanted him to be a better shooter and he came back and was a better shooter, this year we want him to be better defensively and better at pushing the ball up the floor.”

The effort and energy that Calderon has been putting in this summer has not gone unnoticed.  Both his general manager and coach are confident and pleased to see Calderon happy, recovering and resting his wounds for the battle that lies ahead.

One thing is for sure; when Calderon is on his game so are the Raptors.  The first half of the season saw Calderon struggle at the point and the raptors found themselves near the bottom of the league.  When he returned to find Shawn Marion and Jay Triano in the locker room he thrived under the new offence and finished the season with confidence showing the leadership he was expected to bring after signing his large extension.

Hopefully a full season under Triano, the added rest, rehabilitation, and hard work this off-season and the addition of a legitimate back-up and potent offensive weapons will equal a return to greatness for the Raptors point guard.