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#ProveEm Playoffs – 7 Thoughts Heading Down the Final Stretch

By Jordan Skuse

TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 2: Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) (left) and Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) on the bench prior to game start. Toronto Raptors vs Portland Trail Blazers in 1st half action of NBA regular season play at Air Canada Centre. Toronto Star/Rick Madonik (Rick Madonik/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 2: Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) (left) and Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) on the bench prior to game start. Toronto Raptors vs Portland Trail Blazers in 1st half action of NBA regular season play at Air Canada Centre. Toronto Star/Rick Madonik (Rick Madonik/Toronto Star via Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, CANADA – JANUARY 11: LeBron James
TORONTO, CANADA – JANUARY 11: LeBron James /

The State of the Small Forward Position – It’s OG’s to Lose

With depth across the board, the Raptors have a multitude of options when it comes to the small forward spot.  OG Anunoby wasn’t meant to return until December at the earliest. Instead he was starting by mid-November, his first start coming November 14th, in Houston. The rookie of few words finished with 16 points on 6-8 shooting (3-4 from 3) and a +22 rating, a large reason in why the Raptors were able to prevail over the Houston Rockets that night.

Anunoby has played like a lottery-worthy player for most of the season. His impact may not always show up in the box score like it did in his first start, but he remains an integral part of a winning formula. Anunoby’s net rating for the season is +12.5, and it increases to +18.5 in Raptors’ wins.

Similar to how they manage the minutes of DeRozan & Lowry when circumstances allow, Casey and the coaching staff need to do the same with OG. He’s already played more games this season than he did in his entire college career and is still not fully recovered from the serious knee injury that caused his draft day slide.

His defensive impact will be critical in the playoffs and he’s the best option for the Raptors at small forward, even if his offense has a tendency to come and go. Let’s hope the ankle injury he sustained in Orlando isn’t anything serious.

Check out this sequence by the rookie

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