In a playoff setting, especially with how crazy things have gotten in this particular Raptors-Cavaliers matchup, there isn't exactly a ton of minutes and flexibility to go around. You have to recognize and reward those key players who are stepping up to a high degree (shoutout tothe trio of Barnes-CMB- Barrett), and work accordingly across the board with the rest of the rotation.
At the same time, I mentioned in a recent piece that after Immanuel Quickley was ruled out for the entire series, there was a bit of a brass ring open for the taking for that "next man up" to step in.
Looking around, there were plenty of guys who could jump at that chance.
Sandro Mamukelashvili, Jamal Shead, and Ja’Kobe Walter were some of the more obvious options. I also pointed out two under-the-radar guys, AJ Lawson and Jamison Battle, who have mostly been the ninth men in the rotation.
Battle gave Toronto a huge spark in Game 3 and became the unsung hero of that game. It largely earned him a more solidified role going into Game 4. But in what ended up being a somewhat clunky night for everyone, Battle proved ineffective compared to that Game 3 performance. He went scoreless in just over eight minutes and took only one shot.
In Game 4, we saw how the Raptors managed to grind out a tough, somewhat ugly win over the Cavs by playing stout defense, pushing the pace, forcing turnovers, playing fast, and getting inside to score. As great as the spark Battle provides, as one of their more trusted and talented shooters (like Brandon Ingram once said), it might be wise for Toronto to revisit AJ Lawson for that last key spot in the rotation.
Raptors should rewind back to AJ Lawson rotation minutes in this series
Lawson hasn't yet had the standout moment that Battle managed in Game 3, but he was the first choice for that spot in the Raptors’ rotation during the first two games of the series. He played 14 minutes in Game 1, but had his minutes and role slashed to five minutes in Game 2. That being said, Lawson still presents a lot of intrigue for the Raptors going forward in this high-stakes series.
Sure, it's the ninth man role and might seem minor at first glance, but we have to consider that Lawson is a very athletic wing who loves to push the pace, make plays in transition, and has defensive capabilities. He can also shoot the three at a decent rate and find open space to cut.
Everything listed there is exactly the blueprint for a signature Raptors win.
Even though Battle is more of a specialized three-point shooter, he’s a bit behind in matching the Raptors’ pace and defensive identity compared to someone like AJ Lawson. I’m not entirely against giving Battle some run or rewarding him for his efforts, but it also wouldn’t be surprising if Coach Darko pivots back to Lawson for these critical remaining games.
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