The Toronto Raptors have been winning games over the last few days, taking down the Pistons and Heat despite some big names being out due to injuries. This has been an excellent response from this team, as they had spent the last few days getting their teeth kicked in.
The Pacers and Thunder, neither of whom are expected to be playoff teams this season, beat the stuffing out of the Raptors, taking advantage of their lack of depth. By the time the Raptors got revenge on former coach Dwane Casey in Detroit, Nick Nurse had somewhat stabilized things.
Toronto finally has some time off to catch their breath, as they play just three games in the next week. The Raptors just need to hold on until the cavalry comes, and Nurse has done a solid job when it comes to getting the best possible performance out of the end of his bench.
The Raptors have to be generally pleased with how their bench players have performed in this stretch. However, this stretch of basketball has been marred by some disappointing showings. Which Raptors are playing well? Which ones need a solid kick in the rear to get going?
Stock up, stock down as Raptors keep winning amid injuries
Stock up: Juancho Hernangomez
Hernangomez had some very tough performances early in the season, so much so that Nurse essentially excommunicated him from the rotation. Just a few weeks later, the NBA’s resident actor supreme looks like a completely different player in his new role as a glass-cleaning forward.
Hernangomez has averaged 4.5 points and 5.5 rebounds in 19.6 minutes per game over the last four contests. Per 36 minutes, Hernangomez is one basket shy of averaging a double-double. Bo Cruz was a +11 in the Detroit win and +17 in the Miami victory despite not making a shot.
Juancho Hernangomez has played well for the Toronto Raptors lately.
Hernangomez has hit three of his eight 3-pointers in this span, showing that his ability to space the floor is still there. Just when it was starting to look like giving him guaranteed money was a mistake, Juancho has played some of his best individual basketball in a while.
Hernangomez may not have the same rotation role when everyone is healthy again, but he can still make a very convincing case to be the tenth guy off the bench if he finds a way to shoot and rebound at a high level. If nothing else, fans can breathe easy when No. 41 checks into the game.
Stock down: Gary Trent Jr.
Trent was hyped up all offseason long as a player who was going to explode in 2022-23, as the hot shooter was going to provide a boost in an area where Toronto is very deficient. He’s had his moments, but poor performance and injury have made the last two weeks a nightmare.
Trent averaged just 12.0 points per game over his last six contests, scoring more than 12 points just once in that span. Shooting 35% from the field is nasty business to begin with, but making just under 19% of his 3-point attempts is a sign that something is really wrong with him.
Gary Trent Jr. has been off for the Toronto Raptors.
Trent is going into the most important offseason in his career. With Tyler Herro and Jordan Poole each getting nine-figure contracts, Trent could opt out of the final year of his Raptors contract and attempt to secure his own bag. Playing like this is not going to help his case.
The Raptors’ unique defensive style and commitment to crashing the offensive boards has helped them score enough points to get by without amazing 3-point shooting. Against contenders, they will need Trent to get back to his best relatively soon.
Stock up: O.G. Anunoby
With Siakam and Fred VanVleet becoming the primary offensive leaders, Anunoby has been free to go as hard as possible on the defensive end. Anunoby is having such an amazing season that he is simultaneously making himself a Defensive Player of the Year favorite and arguably the team’s most consistent offensive player.
Anunoby is averaging 21.4 points per game in the seven games where Siakam has not been active. Perhaps even more interesting is the fact that Anunoby has not suffered one iota on the defensive end. O.G. has gone from the lynchpin of dozens of hypothetical trades to someone who has become untradeable quite quickly.
O.G. Anunoby has become a star for the Toronto Raptors.
With Siakam hurt, Scottie Barnes not at his best, and VanVleet recuperating from an illness that seems to be floating around the Raptors’ locker room, Anunoby’s standout performances could not have come at a better time for this unit as a whole.
Anunoby still has some rough edges in his offensive game to polish, but it’s hard to complain about someone who can score 32 points on 13-18 shooting against a contender with most of his support injured. We’re seeing Anunoby level up again, and the results have been spectacular.