ANUNOBY IMPROVING BY LEAPS AND BOUNDS
As OG Anunoby’s game continues to expand, so too do the possibilities for these Toronto Raptors. Yes, seven games is an awfully small sample size, but the abbreviated length of the season so far only really matters if one is focusing solely on the ridiculous counting stats Anunoby is managing (1.7 blocks and 1.4 steals per game, plus 50 per cent three-point shooting). The eye test, on the other hand, shows a player — still only 22, by the way — who looks far more comfortable putting the ball on the floor and attacking the basket; who is launching with confidence from beyond the arc; who is locking down opponents and is sneaking in a few clever passes every now and then, including a couple leading to a dunk and a layup during Wednesday’s win over Sacramento.
Anunoby was arguably the best player on the floor in that game, mixing fine offensive play with the best defensive work of any Raptor.
Anunoby set a career high with five assists, the second straight game he notched a new high, was 3-for-4 on three-point attempts, grabbed six rebounds and blocked three shots. On defence, he guarded four positions at times and was especially good against forwards Bogdan Bogdanovic, who had been going off against the Raptors by nailing six three-pointers, and Harrison Barnes, who scored a game-high 26 points. Bogdanovic couldn’t even get a shot attempt off in the three minutes 31 seconds of game time that he was guarded by Anunoby, per NBA.com, while Barnes only attempted one shot in the 2:25 Anunoby was on him. The Kings simply were looking elsewhere, despite how well the players he was guarding had been doing. That’s a testament to his burgeoning defensive reputation.
“I just think he’s looking like more of a complete player now,” head coach Nick Nurse said.
“There’s good cutting, there’s a little bit of driving, there’s usually one a game where he gets in the lane and steals it and he’s off the other way. He’s growing and doing a lot of things. He’s blocking a shot here and there, getting his hand in off a drive here and there. He’s had some good ones here this year.”
Anunoby’s cutting and passing make a dangerous offence even better. He’s a good outlet for Marc Gasol, Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet or Kyle Lowry, but now he can also find teammates who get themselves open.
“He can do a little bit of everything,” VanVleet said. “He’s growing each game and he’s blossoming. He’s having a great year so far. We need him to be pretty consistent. And he’s been doing that for us. So we’ll lean on him quite a bit this year and hopefully he can answer the call.”
There’s no evidence yet that Anunoby isn’t ready to meet that challenge. There’s a case to be made he’s been the best overall player in three of Toronto’s first seven games.
“He’s putting in the work,” VanVleet said. “He’s really taken a step just being a professional this year. And I’ve noticed him working more. I’ll say I’ve seen him in the gym working on his game and you see it pay off.”
Anunoby’s only weakness so far remains at the free-throw line. He shot 63 per cent as a rookie, 58 per cent in his truncated second year and is just 2-for-6 so far with five of those attempts coming over the last two games.
Still, the Raptors can probably live with that issue if Anunoby continues to do everything else at such a high level. Twitter.com/WolstatSun