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Toronto Raptors: Stock Take, plus the roster nears full health

By Thomas Valentine

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - JANUARY 15: Pascal Siakam #43 of the Toronto Raptors handles the ball during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on January 15, 2020 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 2020 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images)
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - JANUARY 15: Pascal Siakam #43 of the Toronto Raptors handles the ball during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on January 15, 2020 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 2020 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Toronto Raptors
Toronto Raptors – Chris Boucher (Rick Madonik/Toronto Star via Getty Images) /

Chris Boucher

Not to hark back to it ad nauseam, but the Raptors went through an itty bit of an injury crisis over the last few weeks. Ravaged by injuries, Nick Nurse was forced to dig deep into the depths of the Toronto Raptors roster, and the results were fairly promising.

No area of the roster was more depleted than the Raptors frontcourt rotation. The losses of Pascal Siakam and Marc Gasol dictated a near lineup overhaul, with Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Patrick McCaw, and Chris Boucher all earning themselves a boost in minutes. Great, more time to see what the end of the roster had to offer.

Everyone and I mean everyone, had a game where they would show up and show out. It’s a matter of opinion, considering he had a career-high 24 points against the Boston Celtics on Christmas Day, but his big day came against the Dallas Mavericks in that 30-point comeback win. You know the one I mean, right?

With the Raptors back to (near) full health, someone was set to miss out on the frontcourt rotation. It would likely be RHJ or Chris Boucher. Both have strengths and weaknesses that adhere to what Nick Nurse is looking for, but for now, we might have our answer.

Boucher played just nine minutes against the Spurs on Sunday night before a grand total of zero minutes against the Thunder on Wednesday night. If you’re good with numbers, zero minutes equates to nothing.

It’s a shame. Boucher has impressed for the Raptors this season, averaging a career-high 6.2 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. He’s a nuisance on the glass, not afraid to shoot, and gives the Raptors no shortage of effort.

For now, though, it could be a while before we see Boucher in such a prominent role.

VERDICT: STOCK DOWN

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