Raptors Rapture
Fansided

Raptors’ Winners and Losers after hectic start to 2022-23 season

By Mike Luciano

MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 24: Pascal Siakam #43 of the Toronto Raptors high fives Fred VanVleet #23 (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 24: Pascal Siakam #43 of the Toronto Raptors high fives Fred VanVleet #23 (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images) /
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Precious Achiuwa, Toronto Raptors
HOUSTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 07: Precious Achiuwa #5 of the Toronto Raptors controls the ball (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) /

Winner: Precious Achiuwa

On a team that lacks amazing bench production at this point in time, Achiuwa is one of the few standouts who was expected to shoulder the brunt of the responsibility with this second unit. In his two matchups against his old team in Miami, Achiuwa proved to be nothing short of dominant against Bam Adebayo.

Achiuwa is averaging 10.5 points and 11.0 rebounds per game this season, with those numbers being boosted by consecutive double-doubles against Miami. Achiuwa, who ended Monday with 22 rebounds, became the first player in Raptors history to record more than 20 rebounds off the bench.

Precious Achiuwa has been red hot for the Toronto Raptors.

Achiuwa is, without question, the team’s Sixth Man. While it was surprising to see Christian Koloko start over him, it’s clear that Nick Nurse values what Precious brings to the table off the bench. The Heat had to regret including him in the Kyle Lowry deal after he outplayed Bam Adebayo in this mini-series.

Achiuwa is by no means established as a no-doubt high-end Sixth Man, but he is certainly making strides in that direction. By the end of the season, Precious may end up as a borderline All-Defensive candidate who can give you a consistent 10 points per night off the bench.