Top Raptors Stories of 2024: Is Quickley figuring out how to be a lead guard?

Welcome to Raptors Republic’s new New Year tradition. As decided by you, the readers, it’s time to dive into the 10 most-most read editorials of the year at Raptors Republic. You can find the full top-10 list of released articles for 2024 (as each one is released) here.

I limited the list to editorials because news items and other pieces can often have more reads than columns. But these pieces — and I’m including post-game pieces — are the ones that take the most work, and in my eyes have the most value. So they’re the ones included in this list.

The year of 2024 has been one defined maybe most by change for the Toronto Raptors. Toronto traded OG Anunoby and Precious Achiuwa for Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett only two days before the year began. Then less than three weeks later, the Raptors traded Pascal Siakam away. A few weeks after that, the Raptors traded for Ochai Agbaji and Kelly Olynyk at the trade deadline. So 2024 began with major player movement, and much of Raptors Republic’s coverage to end the 2023-24 season reflected that. You’ll see a number of pieces covering those deals, or the impacts of them, on this list.

Then 2024-25 has largely been defined by an inability for Toronto to put all its new pieces on the floor at the same time. The presumptive starting lineup of Quickley – Gradey Dick – RJ Barrett – Scottie Barnes – Jakob Poeltl has played zero minutes together. Despite that, optimism has infused virtually every minute on the floor. Far more than would be expected for a team that is so far below .500. Stories of success and development abound — which also is reflected in our coverage, as well as on this list. It turns out, readers like the positive stories.

Without further ado, the No. 8 most-read story at Raptors Republic of 2024: “Is Quickley figuring out how to be a lead guard?” by Zulfi Sheikh.

With the ball in his hand, using that twitchy speed, change of pace, and deep threat, is when Quickley’s at his most dangerous as an offensive engine. If he wants to be a consistent lead guard, it’ll come by hunting for looks (shots or passes) rather than just moving around in the offence and working off others.

A perfect example to work off of is his teammate RJ “Ginobili” Barrett, who’s levelled up as a passer since joining the Raptors, largely because he’s leveraged his downhill pressure and used that gravity to create open looks for himself and others.

Identifying strengths and using them to exploit defences is how lead guards of today excel, and that cog appears to be turning in real-time for Quickley.

You can read the rest of the piece here. And tune in tomorrow for number seven!

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