"He's a great guy to be around. His hands are always active, reaching, prodding, and grabbing at a live dribble, one of the many reasons for his increased steal rate. The 22-year-old has consistently shown the ability to cut well and finish at the rim. It was a tremendous stretch from an angry young man. Last year was a trying one for Anunoby, as he missed time in the regular season due to personal matters and injury. NBA Draft scouting report: Patrick Williams is worth a top 10 pick, Minnesota Timberwolves: Making the case for Obi Toppin at No. You know, it’s what makes it so interesting and intriguing, I think ... Usually there’s somewhere around a million different ways to win a game and you’ve just got to find the one of them, and (today) was a different way to do it, right?”. He came into this year with every opportunity to bounce back. He touched on the amount of focus he has spent working on his game this offseason and head coach Nick Nurse has said that the forward is 'going to have a great year' (per Ryan Wolstat, Toronto Sun). Republication or distribution of this content is He was fully healthy for the first time in a while and back in a starting role. Here's hoping he's been able to put it all behind him and showcase the skills that have almost been kept a secret the last two seasons. The Raps will look to close out the Orlando Magic Tuesday night at home. We often project linear developmental curves to players, expecting growth every season. After being dealt a bad hand in his second season, expectations surrounding Anunoby this season are high, and rightly so. Anunoby has had a good year shooting the ball from deep (38.1 percent), as defenders need to stay out on him, which in turn has helped create driving lanes for players like Pascal Siakam, Kyle Lowry and Norman Powell to attack. But that was never going to be Anunoby’s path. looking Toronto Raptors OG Anunoby (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images). The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA or its clubs. Rajon (I've) just been ready to get back. Raptors fans should recognize better than anyone the impact a player can have on a game without volume scoring. All rights reserved.

Toronto Raptors forward OG Anunoby is progressing in his recovery from an appendectomy according to TSN's Josh Lewenberg. Anunoby was having none of it and gave Kurucs a couple of “what the effs” when he bounced back up. It’s fair to wonder if Anunoby’s role last season contributed more heavily to his regression than any other factor. left

"Passing, shooting, dribbling and just do the same thing every day. hand

When Kawhi Leonard first arrived, the comparison was jammed down our throats. father This offseason he’s taken a meaningful step forward, making significant improvements on both sides of the ball. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA or its clubs. OG Anunoby was an impressive defensive player from day one. Anunoby’s not a star yet, but he has the tools to get there. 2 scoring option every night, but he can't be absent either. But most of all, I just hope he got the time away and the mental rest that he undoubtedly needed.

He also has a unique awareness of when to attack players who maintain a looser handle than most. Anunoby is averaging 1.6 blocks per 36 minutes, up from 0.6 last season. Again, leave one second earlier, and it’s a pass to the weakside shooter. “I thought Serge played well, but I think the five best guys finished the game. The defending champs were a half-second away from facing a deficit that no team in NBA history has overcome. The NBA preseason is here and with the start of the 2019-20 season just around the corner, we're busting out the microscope and taking a closer look at the best-case and worst-case scenario for every player on the Toronto Raptors. In the six games Anunoby was asked to start last season, he saw a significant spike in his overall numbers and efficiency. They finally found some in the final five minutes, with a small lineup that didn’t include either of Serge Ibaka or Marc Gasol. OG was doing such a good job on LeVert. He has also improved at maneuvering quick dump-off passes to a big in the paint, or a cutter coming through the lane. Rondo Head coach Nick Nurse seems to have placed Anunoby in these spots in order to cater to his players’ best attributes, as these areas are great spots for a kick-out and a shot, a kick-out and drive, or, to dart inside for a sneaky back door play. To be an impact player for the Raptors, he has to start making an impact. To order Let’s start with some raw numbers. Is it those sequences that make Raptors fans think he can one day be an All-Star? By using NBA sites, you are agreeing to our revised :privacyPolicy and :termsOfUse, including our :cookiePolicy"}; On this play, for example, Anunoby makes himself available to Jonas Valanciunas - which results in a great looking dime from JV: No one will confuse Valanciunas with Arvydas Sabonis, but Marc Gasol has made a pretty good living off finding willing cutters.

Anunoby had fortune on his side to give the Raptors the win. Toronto Raptors forward OG Anunoby was one of the unsung heroes of his team’s historic championship run last season.

The 21-year-old averaged 7.0 points per game this season and 2.9 rebounds in his sophomore season with the Raptors. On this play, for example, Anunoby makes himself available to Jonas Valanciunas - which results in a great looking dime from JV: His points per game increase this season has simply been a result of more time on the floor; his points per 36 minutes remains the same as last year’s figure. There were a few more forced shots in Game 2 than Game 1, but for the most part the Raptors got good looks.

But the potential is there.

It was more of the same at the team's media day in 2019 but he didn't need to be overly loquacious to get his point across. Because of that, he’s cut out the worst of his looks, while maintaining a healthy diet of open opportunities. Everyone knows not to rile Lowry, because he plays great when he’s mad. The problem is, he hasn't done it a ton in his NBA career.

Some of it is because of his unique skill set, as a forward who can defend and has shown the ability to stretch the floor. He lives at the rim and in the corners offensively, generating 71-percent of his looks from those two spots on the floor.

We all leapt on the “Raptors are great shooters” narrative after Game 1, when Toronto had the best three-point shooting game in its playoff history. This isn’t a “bounce back” season; Anunoby has made strides as a player beyond what we’ve seen or expected. A report from ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski following the procedure indicated he could sit until the Eastern Conference Final, should the Raptors advance. If you want to get in on the weekend mailbag — and all the cool kids do — just click on askdoug@thestar.ca and ask away. If he leaves a second earlier, it’s an easy kick to the corner. Zach LaVine drops a bit too low on this play, allowing the window for Anunoby’s cut. “It was funky, and that’s what you do. expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Toronto By using NBA sites, you are agreeing to our revised :privacyPolicy and :termsOfUse, including our :cookiePolicy"}; OG Anunoby still has plenty of growth to go, but inklings have shown positive thought of a great player in the future. This copy is for your personal non-commercial use only. The growth in ball-handling has helped OG on drives to the basket, as his eyes are able to monitor the defense and react accordingly, helping him be more in control on these drives. “And you know, I’m sure you were seeing how much we were searching for matchups and tendencies … who could go where, what coverage was where, all that stuff, and it took us a long time. His shooting percentage decreased from 2-point range, 3-point range, and from the free-throw line. After shooting 37-percent from beyond the arc during his rookie season and 33-percent last season, he’s up to 46-percent on the current year. This year, Anunoby will have to remind defenders that he's a capable shooter from three. OG Anunoby had a tough stretch with these guys out, but the Optimist is confident he’ll turn it around. Because of that, Dunn’s not able to see Anunoby lurking in the background, waiting to explode. “I guess we use it as motivation or whatever, but we try to stay aggressive the whole game. There are no more excuses. Kawhi Leonard was one of the better rebounders at his position, and after his departure, Toronto looked like it might take a step back in that regard. Most Raptors fans probably won't admit it but seeing Siakam's star skyrocket has them blindly believing it's possible for OG to do the same - and it is. No timetable for return. The Raptors really searched the entire game for some flow and cohesion and smoothness, and it was hard. Your favorite teams, topics, and players all on your favorite mobile devices. We have a really good team and we believe in ourselves and that's all that matters.". Is Maxey the next UK guard to shine in the NBA? OG Anunoby has receded into the background for the Raptors this season, as Pascal Siakam and Kawhi Leonard have stepped forward. Anunoby doesn't need to become Toronto's No. with While he’s unlikely to maintain this pace through 82 games, you can bet the farm he’s improving from last year’s numbers. "Every day I was just working on simple things," Anunoby told reporters earlier this week in Quebec. Anunoby is attempting 1.5 fewer 3-point attempts per 36 minutes than he did last year, allowing for a better overall shot distribution. In the first clip, he waits until after the initial dig, when Thaddeus Young drops his head for just a moment to secure a loose dribble. Your privacy is safe with us. Newspapers Limited, One Yonge Street, 4th floor, Toronto, ON, M5E 1E6. He was banged up throughout the season, played poorly when on the court, and faced off-the-court issues that are much more important than basketball. Build your custom FanSided Daily email newsletter with news and analysis on Toronto Raptors and all your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and more. On the perimeter, the shots that weren’t falling last year are starting to go in. If he can, it would open up the rest of his game dramatically. But that’s just not how it works. 1, Philadelphia 76ers: Daryl Morey and the return of analytics, Philadelphia 76ers: 4 trades Daryl Morey could make to make a splash, Philadelphia 76ers expected to hire Daryl Morey to run basketball operations, Raptors' Masai Ujiri Talks Kawhi Leonard, DeMar DeRozan Trade, More, NBA individual awards predictions: Giannis wins MVP; Bam wins MIP, Toronto Raptors: Kyle Lowry is ready to lead the way in the bubble, Toronto Raptors: Masai Ujiri, the most sought after NBA executive. But it's an efficient basketball play and will continue to keep him on the floor for extended minutes as he keeps his defender working on the defensive end. While he’s been incredibly efficient as a scorer, he hasn’t increased his volume on a team that could use some shot creation.

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