3 Toronto Raptors who must step up after Jakob Poeltl's ankle injury
By Mike Luciano
2. Thad Young
The Raptors raised some eyebrows when they chose to put Young in the starting lineup against the Los Angeles Lakers, as the 6-8 power forward was looking to finally show his age in his limited action this season. Young has a chance to turn back the clock and show the Raptors he warrants an expanded role.
The Raptors tried Young at center last season before the Poeltl trade. While the Raptors initially found some success with this alignment, Young's physical limitations eventually led to Nick Nurse choosing to abandon the idea. Forced into service against the Lakers, Young will need to defend the interior at an exceptional level somehow.
Thad Young will be back on the court for the Toronto Raptors.
What Young lacks in physical stature and dynamic mobility, he makes up for in sheer veteran tenacity. Even at his size, Young is always good for a few important offensive rebounds and crafty kick-out passes. Can he do that enough to earn a role in the rotation until Poeltl returns?
Young might exposed later in games, when things can slow down and individual brilliance from an opposing player might overwhelm the undersized stopper. Managing the situations in which Young's skills are deployed will be key for this coaching staff as they navigate the next handful of games.