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Toronto Raptors: Takeaways from the loss to the Philadelphia 76ers

By Andrew Hughes

PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 8: OG Anunoby #3 of the Toronto Raptors dunks the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers on December 8, 2019 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 8: OG Anunoby #3 of the Toronto Raptors dunks the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers on December 8, 2019 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Toronto Raptors
Toronto Raptors – OG Anunoby (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /

OG Anunoby continues to be a spark both offensively and defensively.

OG Anunoby was a big highlight in the game. The quiet killer had another rocksteady line by finishing with 19 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, four steals, and one block. Furthermore, he did so on 8-for-14 shooting and 2-for-4 from three. He and Marc Gasol were the only Raptors that finished with a positive plus-minus with plus-2 and plus-9, respectively.

Unlike Siakam, OG looked more comfortable with Kyle Lowry. Furthermore, OG is becoming a very strong defensive force and seemingly never gives up on plays. His length makes any perimeter pass very dangerous:

If he continues the steady performances, Anunoby could be in the running for Most Improved Player and perhaps some worthy votes for first or second All-NBA Defensive Team.

The relentlessness of OG Anunoby is what makes him stick out the most. He’s sneaky and conniving on the court, which makes the opposition very visibly frustrated. That type of play disrupts the flow and is disheartening for defenses.

More often than not, Anunoby has been hitting open shots and disrupting the plan of the opposing team. With his offensive improvement taking place this year, hopefully, he’ll continue to develop into a fantastic two-way player that garners significant defensive awareness.

In turn, this will help take some of the pressure off of Lowry, VanVleet, and, most of all, Siakam. When Siakam is down on his luck, OG could be the perfect guy to plug into the offense.

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