"That Immanuel Quickley didn't make it into a Toronto Raptors' playoff game this year, on account of an ill-timed hamstring injury, was disappointing on multiple levels. Most pertinently, as someone who served a critical function for the Raptors, his participation could've made a real difference in their narrow first-round loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. But in the big picture, beyond the outcome of that series, his absence felt like an even more significant missed opportunity for both player and team."
"For the Raptors, who gained so much insight into the rest of their young core over seven playoff games, seeing Quickley in that environment would've taught them a lot more about what they have in their present and (as things stand) future starting point guard. For Quickley, it would've been a chance to prove that his struggles in previous postseasons have no bearing on the player he is today, now that he's honed the type of skills that could've given him more answers to playoff defences."
"Unfortunately, the carryover of those skills remains theoretical, and the playoff-specific questions will linger until this version of Quickley appears in the games that matter most. But after a strong season that ended with him watching helplessly from the sidelines, it's worth shining a light on the subtle but meaningful strides he made on the court, specifically toward being a more well-rounded scorer."
"When the Raptors made Quickley the centrepiece of their trade return for homegrown stalwart OG Anunoby midway through the 2023-24 season, his long-range shooting ability was clearly the biggest selling point. As the front office looked to retool around Scottie Barnes, it was obvious that the team needed a major injection of both proficiency and volume from beyond the arc. And on that score, Quickley very much delivered in his first season-and-a-half as a Raptor, shooting 38.7 percent from deep on 8.2 attempts per 36 minutes."
Immanuel Quickley missed a Toronto Raptors playoff game due to an ill-timed hamstring injury, which was disappointing for both the team and the player. His absence mattered because his role could have influenced a narrow first-round loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Beyond the series result, the missed opportunity affected evaluation of the Raptors’ young core and clarity about Quickley’s present and future as a starting point guard. For Quickley, the playoffs would have been a chance to show that earlier postseason struggles no longer define his current game. His carryover improvements remain theoretical until he performs in high-stakes games. During the 2023-24 season, he became a more well-rounded scorer, building on his long-range shooting and increasing his overall offensive value.
Read at Raptors Republic
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]