The final stretch of the regular season was tough for Immanuel Quickley. He had to miss some time with right foot plantar fasciitis, but returned to play limited minutes in the Raptors’ must-win games against Miami and Brooklyn. Now, he’s dealing with a hamstring issue on the same leg, and his availability for the Raptors’ first-round series is in question.
After the team’s practice on April 15, Darko Rajaković shared an injury update that’s both encouraging and concerning at the same time.
“He’s doing well. Today, he participated in an individual workout,” Rajaković said about Quickley. “He did not take part in a team practice, and he’s going to be day-to-day at this point.”
On one hand, it’s good to know that Quickley is able to work out and that there’s at least a possibility that he will be able to play. The Raptors need Quickley to make the series as competitive as possible. On the other hand, Game 1 is creeping up fast, and it doesn’t seem like Quickley will be his best self, even if he can play.
Quickley can still make an impact in limited minutes
Going into a playoff series without a fully healthy starting lineup is tough, especially considering what Quickley brings to this Raptors team as a floor spacer and a playmaker.
The former is especially important for a team that doesn’t have a ton of reliable volume shooters—and that is Quickley’s key to contributing to the Raptors even when he’s limited.
If he plays but isn’t feeling great, Quickley may not find himself in a ton of pick-and-roll actions or with the ball in his hands a lot, but his mere presence will force the Cavaliers to spread out their defense. That, in turn, will create space for Brandon Ingram, RJ Barrett, and Scottie Barnes to get to work.
The bench needs to be ready
If Quickley is out or limited, Jamal Shead and Ja’Kobe Walter have to be ready to step up. Shead’s playmaking and perimeter defense will be invaluable when Quickley is on the bench. Walter is the Raptors’ only volume shooter who sank 40% of his attempts for the season. He will have to make shots to give the Raptors’ a chance to hang with the Cavs’ high-scoring offense.
Game 1 on Saturday will mark both players’ postseason debuts in the NBA. The bright lights, big stage, and upped physicality can be difficult to adjust to, but the Raptors’ young players have a slim margin for error, especially if they have to step into bigger roles than expected.
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