It’s the Wright time for Raptors
Backup point guard brought it all against Los Angeles Clippers
OAKLAND — Delon Wright was getting steals, run-out dunks and knocking down three-pointers while Fred VanVleet was dishing out assists at the highest rate of his National Basketball Association career.
For one night at least, all was right with the Toronto Raptors backup point guards.
For various reasons and through various circumstances, Wright and VanVleet have had their difficulties this season, but their play in Tuesday’s 123-99 rout of the Los Angeles Clippers was tremendous.
Wright, despite being gashed over the eye for a three-stitch cut in a first-half mishap, had 12 points, a couple of steals, three assists and four rebounds in a stats-stuffing outing fans haven’t seen too often this season.
VanVleet had a career-high 14 assists and tied his season high with six rebounds and was invaluable in getting Kyle Lowry going with the way he ran the team on the court.
It was one of the few times this season both guards have played well in the same game, and getting that kind of consistent contribution will be significant as the season progresses.
It was Wright’s play, however, that was more eye-opening and the most welcome.
In one sequence in the second half, he snuck in for a rebound and a put-back basket of a missed free throw that was done on guile and hustle. He then had a steal at midcourt that he finished with a dunk. He also made a couple of three-pointers, seemed to be able to get to the rim with relative ease and looked more like the Wright of last season.
It’s been coming: a couple of nagging injuries, some changes to the Raptors’ rotation and the group he plays with have simply taken some time to get used to.
“He’s been looking pretty good lately,” coach Nick Nurse said, before the Raptors left town for a four-game road trip that continued here Wednesday night.
One sign that Wright is feeling more comfortable and confident is the way he’s attacking the basket and trying to finish in traffic. He’s a bit of a contortionist when he gets near the rim, but that comes with feeling like he can make any shot no matter who is near him.
“He’s got a lot of finishes; he’s got more than the average guy,” Nurse said. “This side, that side, left hand, right hand, really high off the board, tons of spin.
“I don’t know, I’m not sure he’s calculating the finish, the English on there. He’s got a lot of calculations to make if that’s the case. He’s got some when he’s on this side of the basket, I’m not so sure I would ever imagine how to put it in on that side, but he does sometimes.”
The biggest thing the Raptors need from Wright — a point that’s been made for years — is for him to become a more assertive finisher and shooter.
Wright is shooting a career-best
41.3 per cent from three-point range going into Wednesday night’s game against Golden State, and his willingness to shoot in transition, or even when he has an open look in half-court sets, opens up myriad possibilities for teammates.
VanVleet, meanwhile, is rounding into form after a slow start to the season. Heading into Wednesday night, he was 8-for-15 from three-point range, including five made three-pointers — one off his single-game career high — in a loss to Milwaukee on Sunday.
He also helped get Lowry going on Monday in Los Angeles with his assists. “Freddy did a great job of pushing the ball and the tempo was great,” Lowry told reporters after the game. “He got me some open looks.”
The combination of Wright and VanVleet is paramount for sustained success for the Raptors.
Not only do they provide on-the-ball offence that can ease the load on Lowry, they can get games to a tempo that best suits Toronto.