3 Toronto Raptors players who need to improve without OG Anunoby
By Mike Luciano
2. Khem Birch
The Raptors chose to move Birch into the starting lineup now that Anunoby is injured, as moving Pascal Siakam to the power forward spot and going with a more traditional lineup seems to be the best way to start games off without OG. Birch wasn’t himself before the Utah game, and Toronto needs him to turn it around.
Birch started the Anunoby-less stint fairly well, putting up 14 points in 24 minutes despite getting matched up against some shot-blocking seven-footers in Rudy Gobert and Hassan Whiteside. That efficiency and willingness to assert himself had been missing from some of his earlier performances.
The Toronto Raptors will have to start Khem Birch without OG Anunoby.
Birch is not going to put up dominant offensive numbers every single game, but if he’s going to be trusted with a starting role due to the absence of Anunoby, we need to see that same finishing skill on display more frequently. His numbers during the Tampa stint as a starter were more than serviceable.
Birch’s generally poor shooting may make him less attractive than some big men out there, but the solution to Toronto’s woes inside may start with Birch upping his game. If he keeps playing that well, Nurse may need to consider sticking with him in the starting lineup.