Raptors’ Norman Powell should play every day
By Graeme Klayh
Norman Powell finished his best outing in his young career against the Milwaukee Bucks, finishing with 17 points on 3 made three-pointers, and bunch of assists, rebounds, steals, and blocks. It’s safe to say he has earned his keep and deserves to play every day.
We’ve have seen the development of the youngest Raptor players through the fantastic payoff that is the Raptors 905. Everyone’s favourite player, Bruno Caboclo continues to get his reps, Delon Wright learns the point guard position (and also making an adequate back-up appearance against the Detroit Pistons), and Norman Powell dominates his way to the senior club. Powell has proved the most of the 905 group, and should continue to play right into the playoffs.
If you’ve seen Norman Powell play, may I remind you that we got him for Grievis Vasquez (plus cap space for Cory Joseph, and a future first-round draft pick). Vasquez has been injured and ineffective this season for the Bucks, while Powell is just beginning to take off.
Early in his career, Powell has proven that he is a reliable defender. He usually guards the quicker CJ McCollums, and the screen running Kyle Korvers, but he proved himself on the defensive end most recently by guarding the seven inch taller Giannis Antetokounmpo. Antetokounmpo is a destined star in the league and has been dubbed the NBA’s best prototypical body, but Norman gave him the business by staying in front of him and leading him into the help defense on his coverages.
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Speaking of NBA bodies, Powell ranks in the 88th percentile of NBA players tested at the P3 Sports Facility for Peak Concentric Force in the countermovement jump, which basically means he generates of a lot of force in his jumping motions. That, combined with his quick lateral capabilities and fantastic ability to read the defenders movements, has made him the most dependable perimeter defender on the Raptors’ roster. In comparison, Terrence Ross also has great defensive capabilities, but lacks the instincts to guard quicker wings.
His defense isn’t the only reason why he should be playing every day. His offense is just beginning to fit in. In his last 9 games played, he is shooting nearly 36% from three-point range. His touches come in the flow of the game and his teammates are beginning to trust him more and more. Also, he is money these days from the left corner. When he penetrates, he doesn’t force the issue at the rim, but rather kicks it out to open shooters in the corners with perfect passes on the run, a skill he was tasked with improving in Mississauga. If Powell can continue to improve his in between game while continually improving his three-point jump shots, watch out.
With his ever-improving offensive game, while holding his NBA ready defense, there is not much to argue against Powell’s case for playing time on the roster. Powell will play in the stretch run to the end of the season, be it splitting time with the stuggling James Johnson, or the resting of over-run superstars, but he has proven enough that he should be playing every day without excuse.