Toronto Raptors: Cory Joseph Excelling In Sixth Man Role

In the midst of his first year with his hometown team, Cory Joseph has proven why the Toronto Raptors were sharp in adding him last offseason.

The list of reasons is long for why the Toronto Raptors stand second in the Eastern Conference with their 29-15 record.

The stunning play of their dynamic backcourt duo and their renewed commitment on the defensive end (currently ranked tenth in defRTG per 100 possessions, per NBA.com/stats) headline the Raptors’ keys of success as well as why they have separated themselves from the more middling teams in the East.

While the free agent acquisitions (Luis Scola, Bismack Biyombo) the team made last Summer have collectively made a major contribution to the team’s success this year and while no signing stands above the rest, one deal has been more unsung than most.

That’s the signing of Cory Joseph.

However, it was a move that might not have happened if wasn’t for a landmark Summer for the San Antonio Spurs.

Due to the cap maneuvering the Spurs had to do in order to fit LaMarcus Aldridge (along with their returning players) on their books last offseason, they made the grueling decision to renounce Joseph and make him an unrestricted free agent.

That’s when the Raptors swooped in, who reportedly had an interest in him for a long time and offered him a four-year, $30 million contract.

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While the move was generally regarded as a shrewd move on the part of the Raptors, there was some risk involved as well.

For one, filling the void left behind by reigning Sixth Man of the Year Lou Williams as well as fan favorite Greivis Vasquez is not an easy task for anyone to fill, much less a hometown hero like Joseph.

Yes, both Williams and Vasquez have their flaws on the defensive end but both were big contributors for a very productive second unit for the Raptors last year (collectively, Williams and Vasquez made up 65 percent of the team’s bench output).

Additionally, Joseph had experienced great success throughout his four years with the Spurs, but it was in a minimal role. That prompted questions on whether Joseph was ready to take on a bigger role for a revamped Raptors team.

However, any doubt regarding Joseph not living up to either task has dissipated rapidly based on his play this season.

Joseph hasn’t been instant offense off the bench in the vein of Williams as he’s averaging just 8.3 points per game on 45 percent shooting from the field, but he has kept afloat what’s largely been an inconsistent Raptors bench this season.

Joseph’s struggles from shooting beyond the arc (currently shooting 27 percent from deep) are a liability in this age of the NBA, but he offsets that as he’s incredibly lethal when he attacks the basket by finishing an astounding 66 percent of attempts around the rim (0-3 feet).