Help me, Rondae (et tu, Boucher) – The birds of prey just out of the rotation could overturn the balance in the NBA playoffs

Chris Boucher and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson occupy gray areas in the Raptors’ rotation, each with unique abilities that are needed some nights and not others.

But since the entire reboot of the NBA is a large gray area, maybe it’s not a bad thing.

With questions still pending as to which players are in great shape – and who might have relaxed a bit during a month’s break from the game – plus some teams who lack key players for personal reasons and due to COVID- 19 pandemics, and which formations could be completely different in August than in March, a little gray and a little versatility could do a lot.

It is here that Boucher and Hollis-Jefferson can appear substantially in the short term future of the Raptors.

It can rightly be argued that there is a clear delineation between the first eight birds of prey in rotation and the others. Excluding any unforeseen calamities, and given the work they held during the break, Kyle Lowry, Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby, Pascal Siakam, Marc Gasol, Serge Ibaka, Norm Powell and Terence Davis are the top eight.

But Boucher, long, athletic and diverse enough to play both in the front row, and Hollis-Jefferson, tough and smart and multidimensional like Boucher, are there. And since nobody knows what the games will be until the teams can really see the competition live outside of practice, the two Raptors could very well be counted.

“Sometimes there is only one guy who doesn’t fit and then maybe there is a series (playoff) in which a Chris Boucher or Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, or someone who is spinning but towards the back of it, maybe they come entered for a matchup or something, “said coach Nick Nurse. “So I think it’s always nice to have a little versatility, maybe 12 guys you can use, because you never know who fits each series. But I think with the scrimmages and the eight games you will see many of these guys.

“I think there are so many different variables playing here that all these guys will have a chance to show what they can do.”

Boucher certainly took advantage of the time away from the game to work on his body and his basketball IQ so that he could perhaps force the game time problem. He has increased by about 15 pounds since March and, according to those who saw the Orlando scenes, has expanded his skills.

“The coach said yesterday that some people improved during COVID-19, some people got worse,” said Boucher. “I tried to figure out how to change my game, help my IQ, get my teammates involved – many more split screens and just try to find a way to help my team.

“There are many ways you can play this game, and it was only my time to understand what I could have done to help this team.”

One of the important traits shared by Boucher and Hollis-Jefferson is their willingness to understand the reality of the situation. They see the top eight and don’t complain about being out of the group, but try to guide the appetizers and subtitles every day. First, challenge the players who will perform the heavy lift by also preparing them to come out of the gray and into the spotlight, if necessary.

“I would say that the first unit understands that this is a part of basketball,” said Hollis-Jefferson. “They know that our job is to come in, push them and make them better. So, I feel that we are definitely doing it. We are definitely making it difficult for those guys. This is the only way we know how to do it.

“Just to improve our team as a whole, we know we have to come in every day and get those guys to work, so when they go out it’s like, ‘We’ve seen all day in practice, so’ you’re ready for it. ‘”

If it comes.

“I think it all depends on health, as it does a lot in the playoffs,” said Nurse. “I just think you’ll play eight, nine in the playoffs. Everyone gets to that point, every possession is so critical, but what happens when you miss one of those spin guys? So those other guys are fixed up and stuff.

“And I think one thing is certain: each series always seems to be so different.”