Norman Powell is like the original success story of the Masai-era Raptors. They drafted him super late in the draft and he quickly developed into a serviceable player. After some ups and downs in his career, Powell is solidly on the “up” side of the equation this season, but his success has been overshadowed by newer players on the Raptors who have also developed faster and further than anyone expected.
Pascal Siakam morphed into a franchise player in just a few short years. OG Anunoby has been solidly contributing and, like Powell, has stepped up his game this season. Fred VanVleet got a finals MVP vote. Matt Thomas is an unexpectedly potent threat from deep. Chris Boucher was plucked from a convenience store ready to shoot threes, dunk, and block shots All those players are taking the spotlight off of Powell, who is scoring 15 PPG per game and is basically a member of the 50/40/80 club. The 50/40/80 club isn’t as prestigious as the more rarified 50/40/90 club, but it’s still a pretty good club to be a part of. Especially if you’re a second-round draftee whose draft pick was so unvalued that it was traded as part of a package for Greivis Vasquez.
God damn it. Greivis Vasquez.
I’m going to have to cut this description off right here. Every time I think about Greivis Vasquez my blood starts boiling and I have to take out my aggression by gently punching my kitty’s soft little tummy. Japurri doesn’t mind. He thinks that I’m being affectionate with him when I do that. No, Japurri, I’m just imagining that your belly is Greivis Vasquez’s face.