The Toronto Raptors’ bench unit has been an advantage all season, but rotations tighten in the playoffs, making it interesting to see how Dwayne Casey will utilize his.
A reliable bench unit provides an enormous benefit to any NBA team. Whether it provides defense or offense, a strong second unit allows the starters to take a breather without fear of giving up a lead they worked so hard to obtain.
Sometimes a good bench unit can provide a jolt of energy when the starters simply don’t have it on a given night, jumpstarting a potential scoring run to increase the lead or to chip away at a deficit.
It also allows for more flexibility when it comes to lineup choices, giving the coach the ability to mix and match players to see which lineups best optimize each one’s strengths while minimizing their weaknesses.
After years of having a unit ranked in the bottom third of the league, the Toronto Raptors now possess the luxury of an elite bench, capable of all the things listed above.
Casual fans know about the Raptors’ dynamic duo of Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan, but what’s elevated Toronto to first place in the Eastern Conference has been their bench unit.
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Led by seond-year point guard Fred VanVleet, the Raptors’ bench ranks first in plus/minus, seventh in scoring, fourth in assists and fifth in field goal percentage. VanVleet himself is having a breakout sophomore campaign, averaging 8.5 points and 3.1 assists in just 19.5 minutes per game.
Acquired this offseason from the Indiana Pacers, forward C.J. Miles gives Toronto a 3-and-D option off the bench, while third-year guard Norman Powell gives them a boost of athleticism when he checks into the game.
Both second-year players, Pascal Siakam and Jakob Poeltl, have also gained coach Dwane Casey’s trust to the tune of increased minutes and production.
The Raptors’ bench unit has certainly been one of the driving factors in the Raptors ascension up the Eastern Conference standings, but how much impact will they have come playoff time?
When playoff basketball arrives, teams focus all their attention on the ultimate goal, a championship. For some, that might mean taking a break from social media. It probably includes an added intensity in practices, but for coaches, it also includes a shorter rotation.
In the postseason, the marathon of the regular season turns into a sprint. Teams don’t play the long game. It’s about giving 100 percent and having your best players on the court for as long as possible because if they’re not, it could be the difference between advancing and being eliminated.
This means that a few of these players we see making contributions for the Raptors on a nightly basis might not get the opportunity to do so in the playoffs, which would obviously decrease the impact of Toronto’s bench.
The downfall of the Raptors in past postseasons has been their over-reliance on Lowry and DeRozan. On the other hand, Toronto’s bench unit is comprised of three second-year players and one third-year player, making it difficult to throw them into the fire and expect results.
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It’ll be important for Dwane Casey to find this balance between starters and reserves. It could be the difference between another playoff disappointment or bringing the NBA Finals to the North.