Bench Mob: The Raptor's Unheralded Unit

Photo credit @mffdjky

Before the start of this year's NBA season, all the basketball experts projected that the Toronto Raptors would begin to regress and no longer be an Eastern Conference powerhouse. Kevin Pelton, an ESPN writer (and the developer of WARP) used his advanced analytical models to predict that the Raptors would finish sixth in the East with a measly 43.4 wins  (even behind the Charlotte Hornets!). Despite the outcry from many Raptor fans, this bleak sentiment about the Raptors future was echoed by top NBA insiders and analysts everywhere. After an uneventful offseason that saw President Masai Ujiri draft OG Anunoby, re-up Kyle Lowry and Serge Ibaka and sign C.J. Miles, many were not convinced that the Raptors had gotten any better. In fact, the losses of veteran bench contributors like Patrick Patterson, P.J. Tucker and Cory Joseph were thought to be too much for the Raptors to overcome. With the same core in place, who was to say that the Raptors would not underachieve and struggle in the playoffs again?


Fast forward three-quarters into the season and the Toronto Raptors sit atop the Eastern Conference with a 2.5 game lead over the Boston Celtics. After last night's victory over the Pistons, the Raptors are the first team in the NBA to clinch a playoff berth. With a new offense that emphasizes spacing, ball movement and (a lot of) 3-pt shooting and a stout, tough defense, the Raptors have become an elite team in the NBA. The Raptors have the second highest point differential in the league at 8.7 per game, which is higher than the Golden State Warriors and behind only the red hot Houston Rockets. But despite all these changes what has really been the reason for this revelation up North? Two words. Bench Mob. The mostly unknown group of young guns mixed with a veteran wing player has been the Raptors deadliest weapon night in and night out. Currently, they have an astounding net rating of 29.9, which is the highest in the league for any 5 man unit that has plaed at least 100 minutes.When the Raptors' starting unit digs a hole, the Bench Mob is there to cut leads to a more manageable amount. The energy they consistently bring on both ends of the floor helps extend leads into blowouts. Their ball movement is surgical, picking apart even the best defenses in the league. The suffocating defense they play disrupts their opponent's offense and flow to the game. Over the month of February, the Raptors bench lead the league in points per game, assists per game, FG%, FT% and 3PM.  And yet, even though they play a huge role on one of the best teams in the NBA, this group is often overlooked and forgotten. Here's a closer look at each member of the potent bench unit and their journeys to the NBA.

** All stats taken from Basketball Reference

Fred Vanvleet

Born in Rockford, Illinois, Fred Vanvleet has been the ultimate underdog his whole life. After not being recruited heavily as a high school recruit, Vanvleet commiteed to the Wichita State Shockers. After four strong seasons, "Steady Freddy" declared for the 2016 NBA draft. Despite some interest from a couple of teams with second round picks, Vanvleet was overlooked and went undrafted. Over the summer of 2016, Fred Vanvleet played for the Toronto Raptors at the Las Vegas Summer League and secured a training camp invite. Vanvleet made the team and spend his rookie year mainly as a third-stringer, playing spot minutes. However, this season, Vanvleet has emerged as one of the most valuable players for the Raptors.

On the floor, Vanvleet is a calm floor general who plays hard on both ends. On offense, he has a quick handle and the ability to get to the rim. He is an excellent 3pt shooter and a great finisher at the rim. Vanvleet always plays under control and is great out of the pick and roll. On defense, he is fundamentally sound and is always in help defense. And despite being the smallest guy on the court at just 6 feet, Vanvleet is always boxing out and helping the Raptors bigs on the glass. 

Delon Wright

The younger brother of former NBA wingman Dorell Wright, Delon Wright also had an unique path to the NBA. After poor grades in high school threatened his Division 1 eligibility, most D1 schools turned a blind eye on Wright. With his future in basketball in question, Delon took a leap of faith. Wright enrolled in City College of San Francisco (CCSF), a junior college. After spending two years at CCSF, Delon transferred to Utah, where he would play under former NBA player Larry Krystkowiak. Delon quickly established himself as a legit NBA prospect at Utah and picked up the Bob Cousy Award in 2015, the award for the top point guard in college basketball. He declared for the 2015 NBA draft and was drafted with the 20th pick by the Toronto Raptors. Wright, like Vanvleet was a third stringer in his rookie year and missed much of the 2016-2017 season due to a torn shoulder labrum. In his first season with consistent minutes, Delon is surprising analysts and fans alike with his strong play.

Drafted mainly for his length and defensive potential, Delon is one of the Raptors best defenders and allows them to play an aggresive switching scheme. At 6'6", Wright towers over and overwhelms smaller guards. Against bigger players, he uses his length and speed to contest shots. On offense, Delon's herky-jerky style of play along with his deadly euro step allows him to attack the paint with ease. He has great vision for a guard and consistently finds the open man on his drives. His jump shot is still not great, but he is shooting 87% from the free throw line and his mechanics are not bad. With Casey's love for playing two point guard sets, Delon and Vanvleet are often playing with each other, which gives the Raptors bench an extra ball handler and facilitator.

C.J. Miles

Currently 1 of only 10 active  NBA players to come straight out of high school, C.J. Miles was the Raptors big offseason signing this past summer. At age 30, he is the oldest member of the Bench Mob! Miles was a standout at Skyline High School for Architecture in Dallas, Texas. Interestingly enough, Miles committed to the University of Texas, but he made it clear that he would only go if he was not drafted in the 2005 NBA draft. Miles was drafted with the 34th pick by the Utah Jazz that year. He's made stops in aforementioned Utah, Cleveland, Indiana and now in Toronto.

C.J. Miles is a sniper from 3. When he's on the floor and has the ball, chances are he is going to take a 3-pt shot. And while he takes many contested, fading 3's, Miles is still shooting 39.1% from behind the arc. Even though he is streaky at times, he can get hot in a hurry and carry the whole team's offense. But it's not just his deadly shooting. Miles is a great ball handler who can get into the paint. He has an array of floaters and push shots that he takes when the defense is too worried about his 3-pt shooting. On the other end, he is a passable defender who puts in effort. He communicates and fights through screens, which makes him much more valuable than just a 3-pt shooter. Throughout the season he has been a calming veteran presence for this young and inexperienced bench unit. 

Pascal Siakam 

If you have not read Pascal Siakam's insightful and heart-breaking article on the player's tribune, its a must read for any NBA fan. Growing up in Cameroon, Pascal loved soccer as a kid and if you watch him play, you can see the influence soccer has on his game. He moved by himself to the US at a young age in order to pursue basketball. Like many of the other members of the Bench Mob, Siakam was barely recruited. New Mexico State was the only D1 program that had any substantial interest in him. After redshirting for a year and playing for 2 seasons, Siakam declared for the 2016 NBA draft. He was a surprise first round pick and was forced into the starting lineup for half of his rookie year  due to injury.

On the court, Pascal Siakam is the most intriguing Raptors young player. Whenever he is on the floor he gives the Raptors a spark, whether its an spectacular block or an emphatic dunk. His hustle and heart is one of the main reasons for the consistent success of the Raptors bench this season. On the defensive end he is Draymond Green-esque, with his ability to switch onto guards on the perimeter and bang with the bigmen in the paint. His length, agility and footwork make him a great rim protector. On offense, he is a fluid athlete who runs the floor extremely well. His play making and ball handling have improved so much that Dwane Casey has started to allow him to become a point forward of sorts, the initiator of the Raptor's offensive sets of the bench. With his versatility on both ends of the floor, Siakam's potential is through the roof. 

Jakob Poeltl

Born in Vienna Austria, Jakob Poeltl was destined to become a volleyball player as both his parents played for the Austrian national team. However, after being enrolled in a youth basketball program, Poeltl fell in love with the game. Being Austrian, Poeltl had to make a tough decision early in his life: Stay with his family and play professionally in Austria or go the USA to play at a Division 1 school. Ultimatly, Jakob, committed to Utah in 2014, where he would play two years (one year with Delon Wright). After a strong sophomore season, Jakob declared for the 2016 NBA draft and was drafted 9th overall by the Toronto Raptors (Poeltl is the only member of the Bench Mob who was a lottery pick). Like many others of the Bench Mob, Poeltl had a small role in his rookie year. This season, he's taken major strides forward and is showing signs of becoming an excellent NBA bigman. 

Poeltl, like Siakam, is excellent on the defensive end. His agility allows him to switch onto guards when defending the pick and roll. His speed allows him to cover a lot of ground. His height along with his ability to jump vertically makes him an excellent rim protector. In just over 18 minutes a game this season, Poeltl is averaging 1.3 blocks! To put that into perspective, Anthony Davis, who is a great shot blocker himself, is averaging 2.2 blocks in 36.7 minutes a game. Even though he does not have a go to move on the offensive end, Poeltl is still very effective and efficient. He has excellent hands, which is rare for a 7-footer. Poeltl often throws up hook shots, push shots, runners and fundamental layups when rolling to the basket. He is extremely fundamentally sound and knows how to play angles, which is demonstrated in his dominant offensive rebounding. The one glaring weakness in his game is his inconsistent free throw shooting.

With NBA playoffs on the horizon, the Toronto Raptors are going to rely on this group of relatively young and inexperienced players for production and success in the playoffs. And yet, the Raptors' faithful rightfully should have no problems placing their trust in the dominant Bench Mob.