Toronto Raptors: Three Players who must step up in Orlando

Small Forward-OG Anunoby

OG Anunoby is an exciting young member of the Raptors’ core group of players. 2019/20 has been a bit of a breakout season for him averaging 10.7 points, per game and 38.1 percent from beyond the three-point arc.

His defensive capabilities cannot be ignored either. Anunoby a good perimeter defender who can defend multiple positions and is averaging 1.4 steals a game. His plus/minus rating per 100 possessions is +9 with a defensive win share of 3.3 this season.

It appears that Anunoby will be a lockdown all-defensive player in the NBA soon but he is the second key member of the Raptors who needs to take a bigger role offensively. Like Marc Gasol, Anunoby does not shoot enough with just 8.4 attempts per game. Anunoby is athletic and is a solid ballhandler and could create more shots off of the dribble for himself. To this point of the season, he has been very content taking what the defense gives him and spacing the floor as a three-point shooter.

While Marc Gasol’s lack of production can be attributed to his injury struggles this season, Anunoby has played in all but one of the Raptors games this year. If high efficient shooters like Anunoby and Marc Gasol upped their shooting volume per game, the Raptors could average more than 111.6 points per 100 possessions. Anunoby must be anxious to get going again as he missed the Raptors 2019 playoff success because of appendicitis.

Norman Powell and Marc Gasol’s production would be more impactful if they could stay healthy during the Orlando bubble.  Anunoby would also have a bigger impact on the Raptors’ success if he were more aggressive seeking his shot. With everybody healthy to start the August 1st return against the Los Angeles Lakers, the Toronto Raptors are the defending champions and every member of the team will be ready to compete at a high level.