Toronto Raptors Heat Check Vol.1: The marathon continues
Terence Davis Jr. ought to be Toronto’s eighth man
Nick Nurse loves Patrick McCaw and if you love him that’s okay too. However, Terence Davis Jr. ought to be the Toronto Raptors’ eighth man.
Now that the team is fully healthy, Nurse has some important lineup related decisions to make, one of which includes selecting the eighth man in the rotation.
After the starting five, Norman Powell is the clear-cut first man up for the Raptors. Depending on what Nurse decides the seventh man is likely to be Serge Ibaka.
The starting center debate could take up a whole separate slide, but it’s time to outline why Terrence Davis Jr. is the Raptors’ eighth man.
To start things off, in the pre-stoppage regular season Davis was a far more efficient player than McCaw in fewer minutes played. Davis averaged 7.7 points in 17 minutes per game while McCaw averaged 4.5 points in 24.5 minutes over 37 games played.
Giving the more efficient player more minutes seems like a no brainer, right? It may not be that simple.
One of the reasons Nurse may like to play McCaw a lot is his length. When you put McCaw on the floor his length gives him the opportunity to be a disruptor.
However, there’s one intangible Davis posses which McCaw does not and that’s the ability to be a true spark plug off the bench.
Davis’ energy is contagious and that’s something you want on the court at all times, especially for a player coming off the bench.
At a time where the Raptors are gearing up for a championship run and are also isolated from their families, Davis’ energy can be a real x-factor.
If you look at key players who usually come off the bench for the Raptors, they all bring a certain level of energy to the court. Deploying Serge Ibaka is like drinking a highly caffeinated beverage, Norman Powell’s quiet confidence is helpful in its own way and players like Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Chris Boucher, and Matt Thomas can also get the team going.
When it comes to Patrick McCaw, the same cannot be said. There isn’t that burst of energy or confidence you know you’re going to get out of other players.
McCaw has his place on the roster and he’s carved out a niche, but Terence Davis has to be the Raptors’ eighth man.
Davis plays with a chip on his shoulder and every time he touches the court, he wants to prove his doubters wrong. This is exactly what the Toronto Raptors need, someone who can quickly boost the morale, jump in and light the collective fire for the team, especially in this environment.