Raptors: 3 players that need to bounce back in the second half of season

The first half of the NBA season just wrapped up and the second half of the season has recently been released for the Toronto Raptors.

It was quite the up and down first half of the season for the Raptors as they went 17-19 during the stretch, and ended it with the league’s health and safety protocols hitting the team in a big way which made things worse.

Despite the Raptors’ crazy first half of the season, there were some players that were consistent with their play and gave it everything they got every time they stepped onto the court, as Fred VanVleet and Norman Powell have had breakout seasons.

However, there were also some players that weren’t the greatest, and I’m more than certain they are looking to bounce back in the second half to help lead this team to secure a playoff spot by the end of the season as they currently hold the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

These 3 Raptors need to step their game up

No. 3: PF Stanley Johnson

2020-21 stats – 32 GP – 2.9 PPG – 2.2 RPG – 1.3 APG – .392 FG% – .400 3P% – .786 FT%

Although Johnson really doesn’t have to improve on the defensive side of the ball in the second half of the season, he could definitely improve on the offensive side of the ball if he’s going to get more of these looks off the bench in games in the second half.

While he’s more of a defensive player rather than an offensive player, he’s shooting somewhat nicely from the field for someone who doesn’t really score a lot, especially from 3-point range.

Johnson is currently shooting 40% from three, which is amazing to say the least. He has to be taking more shots in some scenarios if he wants to help out the Raptors’ bench production. He may be shooting 40% from deep, but he’s only averaging 1.6 attempts from outside per game.

Stanley Johnson could give the Raptors’ bench a boost

Through the first half of the season, Johnson has averaged a pretty boring offensive stat line thus far as he has put up 2.9 points per game, 2.2 rebounds per game, and 1.3 assists per game.

He has been good defensively for this team, so it’s not like he’s been invisible on both ends of the ball this season. He currently averages 0.8 steals per game which ranks him 6th on the team, but 1st off the bench.

If he can generate more offence from his defence that has been good already, then I can see him putting up more shots and scoring more off the bench whenever Nick Nurse looks to him to help contribute.