This week on Five Things we crossover from the Preseason to the Regular season.
We’re LIVE.
1. MOST IMPRECIOUS FORREAL
The term “fan” is derived from the Elven expression “Fantarséé – meaning dream-like, other-worldly, or wishfully of the light. Elves who wistfully worshipped the peoples of their ancestral homelands were referred to as “Fantars” or “Fans” derogatorily*.
Adopted by humans over time, the term is now used as an endearing reference to describe those closely following “homeland” participants of sport and who possess the highest of expectations and loftiest of beliefs.
It is, thus, startling when a non-fan or “expert” makes claims similar to that of what a fan regularly boasts or claims to already know.
We Raptor “fans” all know Precious Achiuwa’s astounding potential. He’s the chatter of the town for some time now. Rightfully so, in the 16 months that Achiuwa has been a Raptor we’ve witnessed threefold evolutions. Samson Folk wrote, recently, of his most imminent metamorphosis – reaffirmed by Precious himself.
Again, though, we assume nobody else is listening. We assume nobody is watching Toronto, generally, let alone the “7th” guy in the rotation. We assume most other NBA fans and media members see only a guy who goes 4/16 in a preseason game and, who, every once in a blue moon flashes brilliance. He might be known as the guy who once blocked Kevin Durant, but most take him no more seriously than the guy flippantly thrown into the Kyle Lowry trade. Or so we self-centred fans think.
Well, folks, you may want to sit down for this one. Precious is getting respect put on his name. Forreal.
Not one, but two, renown Sports Illustrated NBA writers, Chris Mannix and Chris Herring, chose Precious Achiuwa as their Most Improved Player candidates. He also received at least one vote from The Athletic staff – Monsieur Koreen playing the homer?
Currently, Precious’ odds (+7000) to win the award aren’t great. The favourite is Anthony Edwards at +750. Scottie is +2800 (the idea of a sophomore winning this award is very dumb to me for reasons I won’t get into), O.G. +3000, and Gary +8000.
That doesn’t matter so much, unless you possess a certain hobby that includes making financial risks on very unlikely outcomes (no judgement).
What does matter is that we fans are not alone in thinking that Precious is nearing a big jump. “Experts” are validating what we already believed to be true.
Pascal won the award in 2019 averaging 17 points and 7 rebounds on 59% effective field goal – a 10-point and 3-rebound jump from the year prior.
Precious averaged 9 points and 7 rebounds on 47% effective field goal last year. A jump to MIP-level would have to be significant. Were he to hit 17-18 points with an increase in efficiency, he’d certainly be in the running.
MIP tends to award those who have improved offensively more than defensive. The last three winners Ja Morant, Julius Randle, and Brandon Ingram were each, at the time, known for the former.
Precious’ best chance is blossoming into the elite defender we’ve already seen signals of, and media members taking major notice.
Were he to become the perimeter daemon and paint fiend we all expect him to be, those expert predictions, and, more importantly, those +7000 odds don’t seem all that ludicrous.
Either way, it’s nice to know that everything we’ve been seeing, others have seen too.
*Don’t go googling Elven dictionaries or Tolkien encyclopaedias, it was all totally made up
2. Many O.gs
Official Toronto Raptor measurements came out.
If it weren’t for this subheading, you most certainly would not guess who the heaviest longboy of all the longboys would be.
Lazy guess would be Khem Birch or Thad (How is Thad so slim!?). Thoughtful one, Precious.
It’s O. freakin’ G.
That’s not the only reason why O.G., in some very, very tiny ways, is an NBA rarity. But it certainly helps.
Once O.G. overcomes some of his offensive challenges (#2) (dribbling, balance, court awareness), his size and athleticism could make him LeBron-esque in terms of unstoppable force.
A late rumble down the lane in the win against Cleveland on Wednesday is a perfect example.
O.G.’s quick crossover doesn’t lose Caris LeVert, but his 250lbs of mass does, enabling an easy finish. Getting defenders on their back feet is the goal. The easiest way to do that is with a bump/nudge/smash. O.G. can literally do any one of those three things to anyone in the NBA.
Not sure you remember this one against defensive linebacker Semi Ojeleye?
The weight is simply affirming what we already know, but it still blows my mind. You just seldom see a man of this density and strength guarding lead perimeter scorers AND swooping in like Smaug for a transition block like this one on Wednesday.
It also validates my belief in O.G.’s overall value. Leap or no leap, you rarely find this combination of athleticism and size in the NBA. Particularly, ones that defend at an all-NBA level and hits 39% of their threes 3 of the last 4 years.
And you sure as Hell don’t trade them for Josh Hart.
I’m not still bitter, you’re bitter.
3. PRECIOUS CUTS
More Precious, I know. I just might end up talking about Precious every single Five Things. His case study is just so damn alluring.
It’s like watching a time lapse of a plant grow. There’s volumes of varying data to analyze and sudden changes to observe each game.
On Wednesday, like, Preseason, Precious had some very stinky offensive moments (4/11 overall). It’s like he and O.G. are in Basketball Academy together – O.G. a year ahead – and they’re, together, testing out newfound skillsets with wildly stark results.
Precious, also like O.G., demonstrated on Wednesday that he’s absolutely, horrifically terrifying when speeding “downhill”.
Precious in the open court is perilous. When the half-court arrives, lack of spacing and set defences inhibit his gaining of momentum. Smart offences create it for those unable to on their own accord.
Last week, I noted how Nurse involved O.G. in some handoffs and off-ball screens to recreate that downhill effect. Both the receiving of the ball while on the move and the vacuum effect caused by drawing defenders into a single space (where the screen/hand-offs transpire) allow for a player to find momentum towards the hoop. Scottie, last year, also received these sorts of plays breaking him free of a stifled pace.
Precious isn’t skilled enough to be the centre of those actions. He’s not a savvy passer, nor a capable dribbler in traffic, nor a threatening pull-up shooter.
THIS THOUGH.
THIS is what Precious needs to do a tonne of.
Not only does it make him a speeding bullet in a bowl of soup it also puts him in an ideal spot to grab any offensive rebound should he not get a pass. Motion is also, sometimes, as far as offensive dynamism goes, as important as 3-point shooting. Precious’ cuts open lanes and spaces for others to fill. That in turn creates additional motion for teammates or lapses in the defence for ballhandlers to attack.
Towards the end of the third quarter, Freddy crossed Donovan Mitchell and got himself into the middle of the paint.
Evan Mobley wandered over and instead of Precious sitting in the corner for a 3 he cut baseline. EXACTLY WHAT HE SHOULD DO! Freddy didn’t anticipate the cut and sailed it out of bounds. Still, great read by Precious.
We all underestimate cutting. It’s supremely effective. More cutting from Precious is more belly shots to the defence. Defenders will have to sag to mitigate his momentum and prevent a clean cut to the hole. That gives Precious more space should he receive a drive-and-kick where he can shoot or attack a recovering defender.
Love to see it.
4. Christian Faith
It’s been two very long years since we had Serge Ibaka challenging foolish drivers in finger wagging denial. Two very long, shot-blocking-less, years. No longer.
Christian Koloko has emerged. Khem and Boucher were out Wednesday and Koloko was called upon to combat Cleveland’s Length of Doom. And he fulfilled his duties admirably.
Koloko finished the night with 15 minutes, 6 rebounds, and a block. Solid for a second rounder playing his first NBA game ever.
Nurse is no Michael Malone; he’ll give anyone and their hedgehogs an opportunity to prove themselves – no matter their experience. He will, however, yank you faster than the Doodle himself if you flounder. You got to earn your keep.
Koloko did just that. Like Paul Jones said in the post-game show (more on that soon), “Koloko knows that’s where his bread is gonna get buttered.” We saw multiple times Koloko doing what he must to remain on the floor, particularly defensively, picking up on drives, help-siding on broken plays, and surviving on switches.
It’s something Toronto has desperately craved and only seldom experienced consistently from its core at a sustainable level. Sequences like these suggest that Koloko might, much sooner than later, become a significant part of Toronto’s rotation.
First play, Koloko switches on to LeVert and dogs him all the way into an ill-advised fadeaway. Second play, is super impressive: Koloko sidles over to plug ANOTHER Donovan Mitchell penetration, swiftly switches to help on the dish off, fences off the baseline on a Dean Wade drive, and finishes with a sound boxout.
Of course, these kinds of plays help too.
5. Where’ve I Been?
HOW DID I NOT KNOW THAT JACK HAS A TV SHOW?
Okay, it’s not a TV show. It’s a stream with Jack, Paul Jones, Leo Rautins, and Randy Urban, among others, where they discuss the game’s events. It’s no Rap Up.
But it’s hilarious.
First of all, it’s called Raptors Night Cap. How else would I know this is Jack’s idea?
There’s a drinking innuendo involved.
It’s at a dark and dingy, and what I assume knowing Jack, Irish bar.
There’s an array of foods ideal for the consumption of alcohol.
There are mugs of what I assume to be beer, but for Jack might be something a bit stiffer.
It’s everything Jack croons about on every broadcast in one setting: Hoops, Booze, Leisure, Friends.
I love Jack. And, frankly, I’d watch anything he starred in.
The View with Jack. Hundred percent. Late, Late, Late Night Show with Jack. No brainer. Jack sitcom dad, I could see it. Jack saving troubled youth. Heartbreaker.
This show, obviously, stars Jack. Jonesy is a great foil. He’s sweet, deferential, profound and it contrasts Jack’s insightfulness, bluntness, and loudness perfectly.
I probably won’t watch it again. Like ever. Not only because Leo Rautins really grinds my gears. Also because, again, the Rap up rules (you all should subscribe).
But I had to share my joy finding Jack doing what he loves to do in likely his favouritest of favourite spots.
