Toronto Raptors: Whose stock is rising, Norman Powell states his case

Norman Powell

What’s the best way for a player on the fringes of the potential playoff rotation to make an impact late in the season?

Easy. Just be Norman Powell.

Granted, Powell’s week got off to a very strange, very Norman Powell-like way, with a zero point performance that was highlighted by the fact he pulled down a career-high 11 rebounds, including two offensive rebounds.

Powell was able to bring an end to Thunder possessions and also keep plays alive with his two offensive boards, and while he wasn’t able to put any points on the board, the effort was still there.

After the goose egg on Friday, Powell was about to turn things around and dial in two big performances. Against the Hornets, he had 10 points, two steals, and a block, while shooting a cool 4-5 from the field, knocking down both his three-pointers.

That was followed by an even more impressive performance, this time against the Chicago Bulls, where Powell was the best player on the court. His 20 points came on an incredible 8-10 shooting, adding 80-percent from three.

The constant in all of this?

Powell hitting threes like it’s nobodies business.

He was a 28-percent shooter from three last season, but this year that percentage has been bumped up significantly to 37-percent. Powell looks a lot more confident pulling up from deep, especially at the top of the arc coming off of screens.

Having another confident shooter from three is exactly what you need come playoff time. Powell can add pesky defense too, and his play recently looks likely to propel him into the rotation if he wasn’t there already.

Either way, it’s been a great week for Norman Powell. Now, let’s just bubble wrap everyone.

(all videos via nba.stats.com)