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Toronto Raptors: Is This OG Anunoby’s Breakout Season?

By Go Paolo

Toronto Raptors - OG Anunoby (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
Toronto Raptors - OG Anunoby (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Toronto Raptors – Blue Jay (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
Toronto Raptors – Blue Jay (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /

Strengths

Anunoby’s biggest asset is his physical frame. They say, “You can’t teach size” and Anunoby has it in spades. At 6’8″, 235 lbs. and a 7’2.5″ wingspan, Anunoby has the perfect combination of being a long yet sturdy player.

This allows OG to play well in either the perimeter or interior. His solid build allows him to defend the 4 or even the 5 in small ball sets as he won’t be pushed around. His agility and wingspan let him cut the distance from the paint to the perimeter quickly, a perfect trait in today’s “pace-and-space” era.

Anunoby’s biggest contributions to the team are on defence. Statistically, OG was in the top-five among rookies in most metrics. He was first in net rating (+10.2) among rookie starters (who average more than 20 minutes a game) beating even the likes of Jayson Tatum, Donovan Mitchell, and Ben Simmons.

He revealed his potential when he shut down last year’s MVP, James Harden, limiting him to 32 per cent shooting and forcing him to commit nine turnovers in a 16-point Raptors victory.

Fans may have been overzealous in believing he could “contain” LeBron James in the playoffs, but he gained valuable experience going against the game’s best and he’ll be better for it.