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Raptors PG Delon Wright close to top of NBA in important stat

By Brian Boake

TORONTO, CANADA -APRIL 17: Head Coach Dwane Casey of the Toronto Raptors looks on as Nick Nurse speaks with Delon Wright #55 during the game against the Washington Wizards in Game Two of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 17, 2018 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images)
TORONTO, CANADA -APRIL 17: Head Coach Dwane Casey of the Toronto Raptors looks on as Nick Nurse speaks with Delon Wright #55 during the game against the Washington Wizards in Game Two of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 17, 2018 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Raptors enjoy depth at the point guard position. Jockeying for second spot on the depth chart is Delon Wright, who gets big props for his prowess in a seldom-considered stat.

I spend more time than I should fussing about meaningful NBA statistics versus who-cares? ones. Which stats co-relate to playing winning basketball? There are lots, including one I’d never thought about (blush) until I stumbled upon it: steals-per-foul.

I found the listing at the Team Rankings site to be of considerable interest for many reasons, one of them being the impressive placing of our own Delon Wright. The improving point guard sits fourth with a .956 ratio, an excellent number which solidifies his important role as a long defensive specialist. Delon is just behind Kyle Anderson, formerly a Spur and now a Memphis Grizzly and Shabazz Napier, who departed Portland this summer to sign as a free agent with Brooklyn. You can be sure the agents of both Anderson and Napier talked up this stat as another reason for their players to get fat raises when they switched teams.

A dark horse MVP candidate?

In first place sits the only player with a ratio over 1, that being the reigning NBA Most Improved Player, Victor Oladipo. To have more steals (2.4, which led the league!) than fouls (2.3) Per Game [PG] demonstrates a remarkably high degree of defensive effectiveness. Oladipo also averaged over 23 points PG, so he’s got this two-way player thing worked out.

There’s not a dud in this list. For example, tucked in behind Delon is Charlotte’s Kemba Walker. I can’t believe the number of people who are advocating Charlotte begin its rebuild by dumping him. I think the guy is terrific.

LeBron James is eighth, at .781. James Harden, often bashed for his blase defense, sits twelfth at .763. You get the message.

Back to the Raptors

Fred VanVleet (.493) and Kyle Lowry (.444) haven’t got a lot to brag about with steal-to-foul ratio. Their strengths lie elsewhere. For example, both are well ahead of Wright in another key ratio, that being assist-to-turnover. Fred’s 3.3 is twelfth in the league, and Kyle posted a 2.9. Delon won’t be happy unless he spikes last season’s 2.6.

Another guard tries to push into crowded Raptors backcourt. dark. Next

Assuming he does, and his deep shooting continue to improve, Delon can’t be kept on the bench. Dwane Casey often played dual point guards, and Nick Nurse would be well advised to do the same, particularly when trying to lock down a victory. Let’s hope Delon gets asked to take on nasty assignments, like primary coverage on Russell Westbrook.

I’m comfortable with the Raptors at point guard. There’s a clear-cut Number One, and not a huge dropoff in talent to the backups. While I’m not shy about offering trade proposals, you won’t see any from me with the names of our current group.

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