With a single game left in the season and homecourt locked up for the first round, who on the Raptors team do you see being the X-Factor for playoff success?
Lol, I'm not really sure what an X-Factor* is, but I tend to think of it as a player that will exceed expectations (eg. regular season averages) and which that elevated gameplay is necessary for the team to succeed in the NBA's second season.
I think Lowry is going to be a beast in the playoffs. I think he is going to elevate his game. I wouldn't be surprised if he averages like 23ppg, 6rbd, 10ass, 2stl, and gets mutliple triple doubles during the playoffs. I also wouldn't be surprised if Demar performs better relative to his regular season averages (I have faith in DD).
Nonetheless, my pick is Jonas. I think his performance will have a huge impact on how far this team will go in the playoffs, moreso than his play during the regular season. It appears to me that Jonas has improved dramatically over the past month or more. He is seeing more time on the floor, is playing better defense, is rebounding better, setting better screens and getting more opportunity to be involved offensively. It's almost as if Casey needed to see Jonas perform better, and more consistently, with regards to the fundamentals (that cheat sheet stuff) before unleashing him on the offensive end. Maybe it's just me, but it seems Jonas is getting more responsibility offensively lately. I'm sure all NBA teams are aware of what this kid can do, but it's almost as if over the past month or so, that the Raps were like "oh yeah, and we have Jonas too, our secret weapon that we really didn't want you to know about earlier this season." Haha...if only. But I really think Jonas has an opportunity to show what he can do, and really catch our opponents off guard if he excels relative to the regular season. It would also take pressure off of Lowry and Derozan, and another go to guy on this team will make it that more dangerous.
So, Jonas is my playoff X-factor, who's yours?
* use what ever definition you like to justify your choice, I admit the definition I provided is not very good
Lol, I'm not really sure what an X-Factor* is, but I tend to think of it as a player that will exceed expectations (eg. regular season averages) and which that elevated gameplay is necessary for the team to succeed in the NBA's second season.
I think Lowry is going to be a beast in the playoffs. I think he is going to elevate his game. I wouldn't be surprised if he averages like 23ppg, 6rbd, 10ass, 2stl, and gets mutliple triple doubles during the playoffs. I also wouldn't be surprised if Demar performs better relative to his regular season averages (I have faith in DD).
Nonetheless, my pick is Jonas. I think his performance will have a huge impact on how far this team will go in the playoffs, moreso than his play during the regular season. It appears to me that Jonas has improved dramatically over the past month or more. He is seeing more time on the floor, is playing better defense, is rebounding better, setting better screens and getting more opportunity to be involved offensively. It's almost as if Casey needed to see Jonas perform better, and more consistently, with regards to the fundamentals (that cheat sheet stuff) before unleashing him on the offensive end. Maybe it's just me, but it seems Jonas is getting more responsibility offensively lately. I'm sure all NBA teams are aware of what this kid can do, but it's almost as if over the past month or so, that the Raps were like "oh yeah, and we have Jonas too, our secret weapon that we really didn't want you to know about earlier this season." Haha...if only. But I really think Jonas has an opportunity to show what he can do, and really catch our opponents off guard if he excels relative to the regular season. It would also take pressure off of Lowry and Derozan, and another go to guy on this team will make it that more dangerous.
So, Jonas is my playoff X-factor, who's yours?
* use what ever definition you like to justify your choice, I admit the definition I provided is not very good
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