Norman Powell is the Toronto Raptors X-Factor

With the Raptors down 2-1 in the series against the Bucks, Dwane Casey had to go looking for answers. And after rummaging through the ranks of the Raptors bench it was abundantly clear Norman Powell would see the floor.

With the Toronto Raptors down 2-1 in the series against the Bucks, Dwane Casey had to go looking for answers. Regardless of what fans think of him, Casey has always been able to make adjustments, but later in the series.

The trap was killing the Raptors and there weren’t enough ball handlers to exploit it when the ball actually escaped the cage of Milwaukee’s long arms. The original starting lineup was okay but dynamism was missing. When Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan get trapped or loaded against and they swing the ball there’s nobody else to make a play, the defense slides, shifts and then finally solidifies, ultimately without risking anything. Dwane Casey needed answers and fast. After rummaging through the ranks of the Raptors bench during garbage time it was abundantly clear Norman Powell would see the floor.

If you were watching the Raptors all season you knew this playoff moment was coming. Through injury and circumstance Norman Powell already found himself within the starting lineup for 18 games. DeMarre Carroll and DeRozan were injured for extended periods of time during the season and we really got to see what Powell could give the team. Norm, averaged 31 minutes in his time as a starter where he logged 15.6 points, two rebounds, four assists and one steal per contest. He looked great but there were always people in the rotation in front of him.

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Carroll’s knees fully recovered and with the implementation of P.J. Tucker and Serge Ibaka, Powell became an afterthought. So many new pieces needed to be integrated while Casey was shortening the rotation. Somehow Powell fell outside of it.

Due to desperation Casey has found Powell again and brought him back to feature in the starting lineup without repercussions, only rewards. Now tallying 18.5 points, four assists, four boards, 1.5 steals and even a block in his two games as a starter. Playing at small forward, Powell actually bumps Jonas Valanciunas from the starting five. Everyone then slides up a position to guard the opposition naturally instead of having to resort the cross match nonsense Casey was up to earlier in games 1,2 and 3.

Powell’s primary assignment is Khris Middleton and he’s simply pressed the mute button on the young shooting guard. Middleton has gone from averaging 20 points a game in games 2 and 3 to nine a game, only shooting 33.3 percent from the field.

The best thing about Powell guarding Middleton is that DeRozan isn’t, seriously. DeRozan is a superb athlete but he doesn’t (or wont) exploit it the same way Powell does.

Powell may be 6-foot-4 but he has the wing span, speed and agility of a deathclaw, which nullifies Middleton’s height disparity. Even then, Middleton’s usual counter to teams putting a smaller defender on him is his post up, fortunately for the Dinos, Powell contains fire hydrant core strength to stop the back down. Largely Powell renders Middleton useless, he can’t get those threes off absent-minded DeRozan anymore and he doesn’t have the quicks to beat Powell off the dribble.

With Powell’s tremendous speed and rangy body it also gives him leeway in sneaking off Middleton to snag passes that lollygag in the lane.

Powell’s greatest strength is when the ball switches hands. Every time he rushes down the court it’s like watching Michael Schumacher in his Ferrari blitzing past high schoolers in their 97′ Honda Civic.

Without JV on the court the Raptors adapt a much more agile and malleable lineup that allows for a plethora of switching without giving up much (if any) advantages. And when the switching works out for a stop the entire roster can make a run up the floor. The Bucks for all of their length aren’t fleet of foot, which makes having a weapon like Powell all the more powerful in the open and half court.

The Deer love to trap guards and in game 5 they were as close to openly double-teaming DeRozan as you can get in the NBA. It’s hard to blame them though, after DeRozan dropped a spiteful 33 points in game 4, after laying an egg in game 3, it makes sense coach Kidd would want to stop another explosion like that. But, just like in the 90s those blatant double teams leave a man wide open. With Powell on the court, it stretches the entire Bucks defense to the perimeter.

When that defense breaks down into a 4-on-3 where everyone is a shooter you realize, there so much room for activities. Everyone can dribble pass and shoot, the opportunity is there, the players just need to make the right decisions. With JV clogging up the works the offense was stagnant, it’s easy for the double team to rotate back to the post when the ball handler makes the pass out of the trap. When the ball is swung to you on the perimeter, the defense can adjust in time to stop the shot, and there’ll already be a defender waiting in the paint because JV is there taking up space. It’s hard to drive when there’s already a brick wall waiting for you.

Regardless, Casey had his back to the wall in game 4, going down 3-1 in a series is a death knell for any team that doesn’t have LeBron James on it, but he reacted appropriately. Stormin’ Normin’ is back.

Next: Leafs’ Roman Polak Expects to be Ready for Next Season

For those who ascribe to the Church of Norm, rejoice, the man is the key to the series. It’s been two games and Milwaukee hasn’t had a response to him yet. Norm performs and Raptors win, nobody can stop him, but him.

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Norman Powell is the Raptors X-Factor

By Demar Grant | Apr 27, 2017

With the Raptors down 2-1 in the series against the Bucks, Dwane Casey had to go looking for answers. And after rummaging through the ranks of the Raptors bench it was abundantly clear Norman Powell would see the floor.

More from Toronto Raptors