"We'll get to the defense, which has to improve, but let's start with the other side of the floor where Dick can be a gamechanger. 2024-25 was a tale of two seasons for Dick. The first? A rapid sprint amidst an injured roster where he was elevated to a top-2 offensive option. The second? A slog. A trudge toward the finish line that included an injury that held him out for the last 20 games of the season."
"Even though we've seen it before, a return of form to the start of his second season would be reason for celebration. What made Dick potent last season was his mix of shot-making talent, motion, gravity, and the fact that when it was time to let shots fly he was neither diffident or shy. On the whole, his shot-making numbers should underwhelm most people who look at them. A man described as a "shooter" hitting 35-percent? Doesn't really pass the sniff test."
Gradey Dick enters his third NBA season with higher stakes as the Raptors pursue wins and his contract clock approaches. Mistakes and defensive lapses will carry greater consequences in a winning-orientated season. Offensive dynamism is the clearest avenue for impact, as Dick combines shot-making, motion, and gravity with a willingness to attack. The 2024-25 season split showed a strong first half (32 mpg, 17.8 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 2.1 APG, 42/35/89 splits) and a weaker second half (26.7 mpg, 10.8 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 1.5 APG, 39/34/80 splits) interrupted by an injury. Catch-and-shoot and spot-up numbers were notably efficient (38% C&S, 42% spot-up, 84th percentile). Defensive improvement remains necessary for a full step forward.
Read at Raptors Republic
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