Raptors Rapture
Fansided

Raptors: Panic or patience on 3 struggling players

By Pirasanth Gunasekaram

TAMPA, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 23: Brandon Ingram #14 of the New Orleans Pelicans shoots against Aron Baynes #46 of the Toronto Raptors during the second half at Amalie Arena on December 23, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. 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. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 23: Brandon Ingram #14 of the New Orleans Pelicans shoots against Aron Baynes #46 of the Toronto Raptors during the second half at Amalie Arena on December 23, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. 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. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 3
Next
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – DECEMBER 26: Aron Baynes #46 of the Toronto Raptors drives to the basket against LaMarcus Aldridge #12 of the San Antonio Spurs in the first quarter at AT&T Center on December 26, 2020 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – DECEMBER 26: Aron Baynes #46 of the Toronto Raptors drives to the basket against LaMarcus Aldridge #12 of the San Antonio Spurs in the first quarter at AT&T Center on December 26, 2020 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

2.  Aron Baynes

Let’s get right to the point, Baynes has been a travesty for the Raptors.

Filling a role that was left vacant by Serge Ibaka and Marc Gasol is a tough task for a player like Baynes. They were the defensive anchors to a great defensive team, and Baynes has yet to play like either one of them on either side of the floor.

Everyone knew that Baynes is not the same player as Ibaka on offense or Gasol on defense, but scoring 5.1 points per game on 39 percent shooting is simply unacceptable. Even his post defense, which is supposed to be the Australian’s specialty, has been lacking.

Another reason why Baynes is struggling is that he’s the starting center for the Raptors. In his nine-year career in the NBA, he mostly came off the bench. With Nurse content to keep Chris Boucher in his sixth man role, Baynes has been tasked with stopping some of the best bigs in the game, often with minimal success. Right now, there is no choice but to put Baynes in the starting lineup because there is no one else who can play the center on this team. Boucher can play the five, but he’s too small to play whenever the opponent has a big center.

Once Toronto is able to trade for a good defensive center, Baynes will be made redundant. Until then, all Raptors fans can do is cross their fingers and hope he starts playing better. Given how bad he’s been this season, Toronto can’t hold out hope for a resurgence for much longer.

Final Verdict: Panic