The Toronto Raptors, a team who has built themselves around a unique identity of switchability and excellent forward play, saw two of their more essential names get bitten by the infamous injury bug. A groin injury has sidelined Pascal Siakam, while Precious Achiuwa is working through an ankle problem.
The effects of their injuries are already being felt. After the Raptors needed a solid fourth quarter to beat arguably the league’s worst team in the Houston Rockets, Nick Nurse’s squad was absolutely broken down and dismantled by the Oklahoma City Thunder in one of the worst losses of Nurse’s career.
The vibes around this team are still a bit off, as they clearly are trying to figure out how to win games with so much production on both sides of the ball sidelined for the foreseeable future. With a few road games in a row coming up, things won’t get easier for some time.
The Raptors have been in for quite a whirlwind over the last few weeks, meaning that it’s time to figure out which players are performing well and which need to step their game up. With some uncertain, potentially turbulent times in the future, the Raptors need to play more unified, consistent basketball.
Stock up, Stock down after injury-filled week for Toronto Raptors
Stock up: Chris Boucher
Boucher is going to be in the spotlight over the next few weeks, as he will be the first guy who comes off the bench in relief of rookie stud Christian Koloko. If his showing against the Thunder is any indication of how he is going to play in that period, the Raptors should feel very confident.
A slow start to the last week of games was quickly overruled by a 20-point, 12-rebound showing in 31 minutes against the Thunder. He may have been the only player who performed well above average in the Oklahoma City nightmare, setting a strong tone for what the Achiuwa-less bench could look like.
Chris Boucher made himself known for the Toronto Raptors.
Boucher and Otto Porter Jr. are in a position where they both need to play around 25 minutes per game in the next few weeks to make up for the loss of Achiuwa. Porter did his part, but he didn’t make much of a dent in the scoreboard. Without Boucher, who knows how wide the margin would have been?
Whatever security Toronto thought they had in their defensive gameplan has been ripped apart by an Oklahoma City team that ran right at them. Boucher needs to play a big part in papering over the cracks while still being a solid floor-spacer and rebounder. Let’s justify that contract!
Stock down: Scottie Barnes
How can Barnes be in this category when he recorded the first triple-double of what should be many in his young career? The main reason stems from some very concerning performances against the Rockets and Thunder, as his offensive performance is worrying.
Barnes has averaged 11.0 points per game in the last three games, failing to make 40% of his shots in any of those games. In addition, those numbers were inflated thanks to a strong second half in the OKC blowout. Barnes’ defensive performance against the Thunder led to maybe the worst game of his career on that end.
Scottie Barnes has struggled for the Toronto Raptors.
Barnes’ finishing at the rim has been his biggest issue this year. While his 3-point percentage has gone up, showing that his improved jumper was no fluke, he is not as effective close to the basket. Toronto’s offense has often stalled out when he gets post touches.
On a general level, the Raptors shouldn’t be worried about Barnes. He’s still making plays, and the perimeter play is better offensively. However, Toronto needs the No. 4 overall pick to start playing as such. The passiveness and slow starts need to end as soon as possible.
Stock up: Fred VanVleet
It was obvious to everyone that VanVleet was struggling to start the season, as his field goal percentage was under 40% and he shot 0-11 in a loss against the 76ers. Since returning from injury and having to be more offensively assertive following Siakam’s injury, VanVleet has gotten back in a groove.
VanVleet averaged just under 30 points per game in the two Bulls games and Rockets win, and managed to gut out 15 points and three assists in 29 minutes vs. OKC before leaving with an illness. It looks like all of the VanVleet haters have slinked back to whatever corner of the internet they crawled out of.
Fred VanVleet has impressed for the Toronto Raptors.
VanVleet is still not the most amazing all-around scorer, but it’s hard to tear down one of the game’s best shooters and feistiest perimeter defenders. Toronto is going to place the ball in VanVleet’s hands whenever they absolutely need to get a clutch bucket late in games.
The VanVleet-Barnes-O.G. Anunoby trio has proved they can win games without Siakam last year, but all three of the scintillating form they were all in during the early stages of last year. At the very least, one-third of this group is in a zone on both ends of the floor.