Toronto Raptors predictions: Best-case scenario core player comparisons
By Avishai Sol
OG Anunoby – Shawn Marion
Athletic, versatile, adaptable, the ultimate Swiss army knife for any competitive basketball team, that’s what Shawn Marion brought to the table, and that’s what the Raptors get with Anunoby.
Everyone knows the defensive skills. Anunoby can guard all five positions comfortably. He’s strong enough to wrestle with most modern centres, and still quick enough to contend with the league’s most elite point guards.
For those who remember, that was the beauty of Marion as well. He was the one truly elite defender on those Steve Nash Suns teams, but because he wasn’t pigeonholed in a defensive hole, he could be everywhere at once and improve the entire team on that end.
That’s what OG does. He doesn’t lead the team in steals or blocks. He’s not going to get 15 rebounds or even post a crazy highlight, but what he will do is plug every defensive hole his team might have.
Still, Anunoby’s iso scoring has increased in both volume and efficiency, and at only 23 years of age, he is by no means a finished product.
Chris Boucher – Late 90s Dirk Nowitzki
It’s tough to peg down a comparison for Boucher because he’s so unique. How many 6’10, 200-pound centres have Inspector Gadget arms and shoot threes? His style might be the result of picking up the game of basketball later in life, the collection of multiple countries into one career, and modernizing the role of a big man.
The one thing Boucher does have going for him is his speed. He’s not as graceful as someone like Chris Bosh was, and his hands aren’t as good, but the way he can move end to end at the five-man position is rare, even in this small-ball era.
Toronto Raptors: Chris Boucher has a very unusual style
The closest thing we can compare him to is a teenage Dirk Nowitzki. Dirk, who was rail-thin as a rookie, made his name as an elite shooter that caused matchup nightmares for the defence, eventually growing into his body and becoming a dominant post player.
Boucher is a freak in his own way. He is a basketball jigsaw puzzle filled with high positives and low negatives. It’s rare to have either of those things in a player, but having both is almost unique.