Toronto Raptors: Top three takeaways from week 20

1.  Norman Powell is having a career year

The season started at a low point for Norman Powell.

After Kawhi Leonard left the team, the expectation was that there would be more opportunity to go around, something Powell was looking to take advantage of. But after Fred VanVleet took over the starting shooting guard spot, permanently, Powell was relegated to the bench. In both a reserve a starting role this season, the UCLA product has played exceptionally well and is in the midst of his best year as a pro.

As a bench player this season, Powell holds averages of 13.7 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game on 48 FG%. Although this role was similar to what he played last season, his points have seen an uptick, scoring in excess of five more points per game in 2020. His insertion into Toronto’s starting lineup, due to injuries, has only expedited his development, Powell has authored some big-time performances since returning from injury, himself.

As a starter, Powell’s numbers spike up to 19.1 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game while shooting a scorching 52 FG%.

Just when fans thought this was the best basketball Powell could play, he turned it up a notch this week, turning in superstar numbers when the team needed him most. In the three games Toronto played, Powell averaged a ridiculous 31.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.3 steals per game, shooting 56% from the field.

Toronto will have a tough decision to make this offseason when VanVleet becomes an unrestricted free agent, as he is surely going to command a huge raise in salary. Can Toronto keep both Fred and Norm?

All Raptors fans know for now is that he is playing at an elite level and will be extremely important come playoff time as a go-to scorer off the bench.