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Toronto Raptors
53-19, 2nd in East
Season: 46-11
Bubble: 7-1
Playoff Match-Up: (7) Brooklyn Nets
Sean: Fred VanVleet
- Out goes Kawhi Leonard and in comes…Fred VanVleet?! VanVleet stepped into the void left by Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green and has continued to produce.
- VanVleet upped his scoring from 11ppg to 17ppg this year. He’s one half of the twin pitbull backcourt he shares with Kyle Lowry. His ability to score and stay in front of his man on defense is huge for a Toronto team that depends on it. Last year, VanVleet played the X-factor role from off the bench. However, this year he’ll get a larger opportunity to dictate how far Toronto advances in the starting unit.
James: OG Anunoby
- The Raptors have been an underrated team this whole season, but they have a lot of promise in OG Anunoby. Having the ability to put someone on the other team’s best player on any given night is something special. Anunoby’s attention to detail on the defensive end should be taught. He’s persistent and patient while letting the game come to him; which is a rarer quality to protest on the defensive end.
- For example, OG guarding LeBron made his case for X Factor a no brainer decision. Yes LeBron had 20 and 10, but he shot 46% and wasn’t a huge threat to the Raptors the whole night. Anunoby baited him into taking his regular shots, but Anunoby’s HOF intimidator badge contained things.
- Moving forward, if the Raptors don’t rally behind Anunoby’s defense expect a tough road for them heading into the postseason.
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