Who should be in the Toronto Raptors final rotation spot?
Norman Powell
The final choice for the seventh spot, Norman Powell has probably proved to be the most deserving of all of the choices in the playoffs. If only by default.
Powell has been held to just 2.3 points per game on 27-percent shooting from the field, which isn’t good. What’s interesting though, is that Powell is shooting 60-percent from three, albeit on just over one attempt per game.
Like VanVleeet, Powell had a strong shooting performance down the stretch, shooting 48-percent from three on 2.8 attempts per game. The difference is, Powell has at least shown some sort of consistency with his outside shooting.
While he doesn’t have the height of McCaw and Miller, Powell still stands at 6-foot-4 with a nice 6-foot-11 wingspan and a motor that just never quits. That motor is highly effective in helping Powell defend the perimeter and as a result, he’s holding shooters to just 25-percent from three in the playoffs.
Offensively, Powell isn’t the playmaker that you’ll find in VanVleet, but he still has value as a ball-handler and as a passer to an extent. When he’s on his game, look for him to attack the rim and draw in help and kick the ball out. When he’s off his game, however, he’s driving right into traffic and turning the ball over.
It’s a fine balance for Powell.
Having another energy guy who can knock down an open three-pointer should never be scoffed at, even if the Raptors are missing just about every wide open three that comes to them.
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Which means Powell probably fits the bill perfectly, as someone who doesn’t need 25-30 minutes a night to make an impact. He’s a strong and willing defender who won’t back down against any Sixer on the court. At the end of the day, you just want guys who are willing – and able – to make plays when they matter the most.