The Toronto Raptors finished the month of February on a positive note by beating the Washington Wizards. Toronto closed the month at 6-4. The month was defined by a key player stepping up, a bench contributor proving himself, and the return of the team’s starting center.
After a solid stretch of play, it is time to hand out some monthly awards.
"Mr. Consistency" Award – Immanuel Quickley
One of Toronto’s most up-and-down starters delivered his most consistent month of the season. Immanuel Quickley averaged a stellar 20.5 points per game in February, and Toronto sorely needed his scoring production.
Barnes, Barrett, and Ingram, Toronto’s three leading scorers, all averaged below their season-long scoring averages in February. Quickley’s scoring also came efficiently. He shot 52.1 percent from the field and 43.4 percent from three this month, both marks his best of the season.
His best game of the month came against the Milwaukee Bucks on February 22nd. In that game, he scored 32 points and dished out nine assists. He was able to score those 32 points on just 19 field goal attempts. More importantly, his shot-making kept the offense afloat with Scottie Barnes missing that game.
Raptors fans have to be excited to see a prolonged stretch like this from their lead guard. If Quickley can contribute at this level for the remainder of the season, Toronto is going to be formidable down the stretch.
The "Please Don’t Go" Award – Sandro Mamukelashvili
Sandro Mamukelashvili has been nothing short of a revelation this season. After bouncing in and out of San Antonio’s rotation the past couple of seasons, Mamu signed a modest two-year, $5.3 million contract with Toronto this past offseason.
To many Raptors fans’ dismay, the contract includes a player option for the second season, meaning Mamukelashvili can decline it and enter free agency. With his production this season, that decision seems like a no-brainer. If he maintains this level of efficiency, he will likely test the open market in search of a bigger payday.
He averaged 10.9 points and 4.0 rebounds per game in February, but it was his efficiency that separated him. He shot 50.0 percent from the field, 42.2 percent from three, and 93.3 percent from the free throw line. Basically, when Mamu shot the ball, it went in.
There is still hope that Toronto can re-sign the Georgian big man in free agency, but if they cannot, Toronto is going to sorely miss his bench production next season.
"Trying Not to Overreact" Award – Jakob Poeltl against the Spurs
At this past trade deadline, most Raptors fans were calling for the front office to address the team’s need for a stronger center rotation. The front office responded by trading for an end-of-the-bench big man, Trayce Jackson-Davis. That move signaled that they believed in Jakob Poeltl.
Poeltl missed nearly two months with a back injury this season. He has played five games since returning and, initially, looked… rusty. In his first three games back, he averaged 5.7 points and 4.7 rebounds in 20.7 minutes per game and did not look fully comfortable. There were bright spots, but overall, many fans were concerned.
Then the Raptors played San Antonio on February 25th. Poeltl had 15 points and seven rebounds. The Raptors lost the game by three points, but in the 28 minutes Poeltl was on the floor, Toronto outscored the Spurs by 18 points. More importantly, Poeltl was getting up and down the court with ease and looked comfortable.
It was only one game, but if Poeltl can play like that down the stretch, the front office will be vindicated.