Raptors’ Powell bides his time

On every good team in the NBA, there is a guy just like Norman Powell.

A guy who rises to the occasion every time he gets an opportunity, only to go missing in action for a handful of games before his services are needed again.

On the surface it doesn’t appear fair, but looking for fairness in professional sports rarely ends up in satisfaction.

In the world of pro sports, nobody is owed anything. You earn what you get, often times based on how high you are picked in the draft and how much your team has invested in you.

Look strictly at the numbers and Powell deserves to be playing a more consistent role. But because of the players ahead of him on the depth chart and their experience — not to mention Powell’s second-round draft pick status — the opportunities just aren’t there.

It’s only his second year, but already it feels at times like Powell is getting the short end of the stick

On Friday in Boston, with DeMarre Carroll sitting out the second game of a backto-back, Powell was once again called upon. All he did was deliver. He had 20 points on a super-efficient 10 shots, seven of which he made, three of which came from behind the arc. He also had three rebounds, two assists, five steals and did not turn the ball over.

That all happened in 35 minutes. In the previous three games combined, he only had 19 minutes, almost all of them in garbage time.

A week ago, he played 32 minutes in a win over the Lakers, again with Carroll sitting out. In that game, he had 16 points in another efficient 7-for-14 shooting night while chipping in with seven rebounds, two assists and not a single turnover.

Powell has started five games this year and in those games is 26-for-50 from the field, a cumulative plus-27, while committing a total of four turnovers.

Being too loose with the ball was the Raptors’ one major complaint from Powell’s rookie season. He worked on his handle and has cleaned that up nicely.

Raptors head coach Dwane Casey knows the numbers. He also knows the scenario.

Ahead of Powell on the depth chart are Carroll and Terrence Ross at small forward and DeMar DeRozan at shooting guard. Minutes behind that trio are tough to come by.

Eventually Powell’s time will come.

Either someone here will move on and he will get a spot in the starting five or he will have the opportunity to establish himself elsewhere.

Either way, the production he is providing now in a support role is going to pay off with a role where he’s not waiting on someone else’s misfortune or injury.