Raptors: 3 players who need to step up with Pascal Siakam out
By Mike Luciano
No. 2: Chris Boucher
Boucher has been the saving grace for Toronto’s poor bench season, as the stringy big man has become one of the best stretch big men in the league. Boucher is blocking two shots per game, and his 45% success rate from three-point range is helping make his unusual jumper one of the most effective in the NBA.
Considering how similar his style of play is when compared to the equally adroit Siakam, Nurse originally wanted to keep Boucher and Siakam away from each other as long as possible, all the while rooting the Canadian to the bench. With Siakam away for a short amount of time, Toronto can see how high Boucher’s ceiling really is.
Raptors stud Chris Boucher could shine without Pascal Siakam
Boucher has long cemented his status as a quality NBA player, but with his slim frame, there are some questions about his ability on both ends of the floor against traditional “back to the basket” centers. Boucher could use this set of games to show how far along his post-game has come.
Boucher’s shot-blocking and shooting will make him a quality role player for the rest pf his career, but he will need to prove he can take over a game in the paint to become a star. With Siakam out of commission, Boucher’s time to prove the doubters wrong is nigh.