Raptors’ win vs. Hornets proved Precious Achiuwa is the biggest X-factor

The Toronto Raptors are getting prepared to make one last earnest charge at a postseason spot with this roster, as key names like Precious Achiuwa haven’t always been available due to injuries. With one of the easiest remaining schedules in the second half, they had a golden opportunity to start hot against the Charlotte Hornets.

The bench has been much better than what Toronto is used to seeing in the last few games, as Achiuwa, Chris Boucher, and Christian Koloko all have roles to play in getting this team back to a respectable level. Now that his ankle injury is in the past, Achiuwa will resume his roller-coaster style of play.

The Raptors finally started playing defense late in this one, pulling out a 132-120 win thanks to a season-high 20 3-pointers. Achiuwa was excellent in 14 minutes off the bench, scoring 13 points, recording two rebounds, and nailing a trio of 3-pointers in the first half.

After beating Portland on Sunday, Toronto has won two straight home games.

The Raptors may not be the most dynamic offense ever created, making Achiuwa’s ability to perform well on both ends even more imperative than it was at this point last year. If the Precious fans saw against Charlotte is here to stay, the bench will get the shot in the arm it really needed.

Amid all the trade rumors, Achiuwa can be a stabilizing force.

The Toronto Raptors need Precious Achiuwa to stay hot.

Achiuwa started the second quarter about as poorly as one could possibly imagine, as he was out of position on defense and authored up a true Shaqtin’ A Fool moment when he decided to take on the entire Hornets defense by himself. Luckily, he calmed things down as the quarter continued and reverted to the second-half star from last year.

Achiuwa made his next four shots, including three 3-pointers. Even though Achiuwa came into tonight shooting just 14.7% from beyond the arc, he seemed to find his stroke again. If he can rediscover that touch from deep in the second half, there’s no reason he can’t be Toronto’s first guy off the bench.

Achiuwa would help Toronto solve their rim protection and perimeter defense issues, given how Nurse likes to move him around on that end of the floor. Even if Toronto accepts that the third-year forward will never be an inside finisher with a damn, becoming a solid shooter would give him a purpose offensively.

Without Otto Porter Jr. to support the bench, that shooting is even more valuable.

Achiuwa can sometimes be maddening, but the flashes he shows when everything clicks are exactly why Toronto is continuing to work with him through all of these ups and downs. He managed to put it all together late last year, and he must do so again if the Raptors want to have any sort of postseason shot.