Toronto Raptors: Bismack Biyombo Stepping Up For Injured Valanciunas

Thanks to Bismack Biyombo, the Toronto Raptors have been able to survive the loss of Jonas Valanciunas early in the 2015-16 NBA season.

When the Toronto Raptors learned that Jonas Valanciunas would be forced to miss roughly six weeks of action due to a left hand fracture, they had a tidy 8-6 record and were the NBA’s sixth ranked offense, averaging 103.7 points per 100 possessions.

They had sunk to the bottom of the playoff field in the Eastern Conference through those first three weeks of NBA action, but an adjustment process was to be expected with the arrival of DeMarre Carroll.

Losing Valanciunas figured to be a big blow to the Raptors, since he was averaging 12.7 points and 9.3 rebounds per game on an efficient 55.6 percent shooting. Luckily, one of the league’s most underrated offseason signings has stepped up in a big way, filling in for Valanciunas with a more defensive-minded skill set.

His name isn’t Jonas, it’s Bismack Biyombo.

Taking a quick look at his stat line, Biyombo certainly won’t blow anyone away. He’s only averaging 4.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 21 minutes per game on the season, shooting a meager 46.4 percent from the field and 69 percent from the free throw line.

More from Toronto Raptors

• NBA Trades: 10 Pascal Siakam deals the Raptors must consider
• Grade the Trade: Warriors become title-favs in proposed deal with Raptors
• NBA Trades: Memphis bolsters their roster in this deal with Toronto
• NBA Trades: This Pelicans-Raptors deal would send a star to the Big Easy
• 3 NBA teams facing do-or-die 2023–2024 seasons

That efficiency from the foul line isn’t bad for a 6’9″ center, but his numbers clearly suggest that he’s virtually incapable of scoring from anywhere outside the paint. Over the last six games in which he’s filled in as a starter, however, the Raptors have gone 4-2 with Biyombo averaging a more respectable 5.3 points, 10.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in 30.6 minutes per game.

Biyombo has drastically improved his efficiency as well, converting 59.1 percent of his field goal attempts. Six games is a small sample size, but it’s worth noting that during that span, the Raptors are surrendering just 98.3 points per 100 possessions (the eighth best mark in the league).

On shots from less than six feet, opponents are shooting 16.5 percent worse than they’d normally shoot when defended by Biyombo, according to NBA.com. On shots from less than 10 feet, opponents have shot 10.6 percent worse. He may only be listed at 6’9″, but his length and shot-blocking instincts are superb:

To be fair, Biyombo has been far from perfect as a starter. Toronto’s offensive rating has dropped off to 101.9 points per 100 possessions over the last six games, the 12th best mark in the NBA. But with the 23-year-old rim protector filling in for Valanciunas, the Raptors have been able to post the league’s eighth best defensive rating (99.7) and seventh best offensive rating (103.2) on the season.

More from Hoops Habit

• 7 Players the Miami Heat might replace Herro with by the trade deadline
• Meet Cooper Flagg: The best American prospect since LeBron James
• Are the Miami Heat laying the groundwork for their next super team?
• Sophomore Jump: 5 second-year NBA players bound to breakout
• NBA Trades: The Lakers bolster their frontcourt in this deal with the Pacers

With Biyombo filling in for a talented starting center who just earned a four-year, $64 million contract extension in August, the Raptors couldn’t have asked for more from the backup they practically stole with a two-year, $10 million bargain deal this summer.

He may have only reached double digits in the scoring column once so far as a starter, but in his first three games filling in for Valanciunas, he racked up 14, 12 and 16 rebounds.

In his fifth season now, Biyombo has largely failed to improve his offensive game. He holds career averages of 4.4 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 21 minutes per game, suggesting that while he can be a useful role player, he’ll never be the kind of player you can trust in a starting position.

Next: NBA Power Rankings

Over a full 82-game season, Biyombo’s complete lack of an offensive skill set would likely be exposed, but in the meantime, Toronto has been able to survive Valanciunas’ absence thanks to the rim protection and interior rebounding he’s brought to the table.