From all you people who wonder what Andrea’s been up to this summer? And to those who don’t believe me when I say he’s been working and not sitting around eating bon-bons and resting on his laurels, news that new assistant coach for basketball development Gord Herbert has been over in Italy working with Bargnani must be welcomed.

Herbert’s going to do a lot of teaching and one-on-one work this season – notably with Bargnani, Ukic and Jawai – and he’s spent the summer getting involved with them all in every facet of their games.

- Toronto Star

In Chris Bosh’s most recent FanHouse dispatch, he talks about what he’s been up to since the Olympics (relaxing, mostly) and what he’s listening to this week (Kardinal Offishall, a rapper who’s got “Toronto hip-hop on his back right now.”)

- Fanhouse

As is … there’s a lot to like about this team, this season … but, also, a healthy dose of trepidation, as far as the actual amount of improvement which is likely to occur in the immediate future.

The Eastern Conference is improving, on the whole … and the Raptors could well be treading water for several seasons to come.

- Khandor’s Sports Blog