3 encouraging trends for Raptors during nice second-half surge

TORONTO, ON - MARCH 18: Scottie Barnes #4 of the Toronto Raptors dribbles the ball against Malik Monk #11 of the Los Angeles Lakers (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - MARCH 18: Scottie Barnes #4 of the Toronto Raptors dribbles the ball against Malik Monk #11 of the Los Angeles Lakers (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images) /
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Precious Achiuwa, Toronto Raptors
CLEVELAND, OHIO – MARCH 06: Precious Achiuwa #5 of the Toronto Raptors (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

2. Precious Achiuwa becoming a sniper

In the early parts of the season, Achiuwa was a complete liability on the offensive end that kept getting minutes based on his athletic potential and defensive versatility. The version of Achiuwa we’re seeing now is what Masai Ujiri always envisioned for his prized trade acquisition.

Since the break, Achiuwa is taking 3.5 3-pointers per game and making an astonishing 43.5% of those attempts. Not only would that number be right near the top of the entire NBA, but it’s helped him average 13.0 points per game since he started being more willing to shoot.

Precious Achiuwa has helped boost the Toronto Raptors’ shooting.

Achiuwa is playing a calmer, more relaxed game than he was before. The mind-numbing turnovers are going down and the quality shots are going up. He hasn’t lost a shred of his patented defensive skill as a result, which has to make Nick Nurse happy.

Achiuwa was too athletically skilled to be a simple rim runner. Now that he’s found a secondary offensive function as a shooter, he’s reeled off double-figures in each of the last six games. No Raptors player has improved more from Game No. 1 to Game No. 70 than the former Memphis Tiger.