Chris Boucher's energy is lifting the Raptors
Imman Adan and Katie Heindl look at what they're thankful for with the Raptors roster and Chris Boucher's contributions on both ends is one of them. Listen to the full episode on the "Raptors Over Everything" podcast feed or watch on our YouTube.
Video Transcript
KATIE HEINDL: We already mentioned one of them. I think Chris Boucher, just, like, the naturalness with which he's playing right now. I feel like the kind of the-- and also the way that his teammates are supporting him. Like, when Fred got asked last night, was that the best he'd ever seen Chris Boucher, play and Fred Wright right away was like, didn't you watch him in the G League?
Like, that was box office stuff. I thought that was so great. And it's true.
I'm very thankful for OG Anunoby. I think this is the kind of season-- knocking on wood, but like, this is the kind of season I've always wanted to have. And I understand it's coming with substantial pressure and a lot more responsibility load because so many of his teammates are out. But the fact that, again, just like, we want to go back to this theme of fluidity.
The fact that he can just like step into it shows me how ready he was for this responsibility and opportunity. I think Fred being back is another one. Also, Fred looking well and not so sick-- I don't know why the whole team has the, like, cold bug that's going around. But I hope that's all the way out. But yeah, Fred--
IMMAN ADAN: Mask up, everybody.
KATIE HEINDL: Coming back-- yes, wear your masks. Coming back just to not get a cold-- like, there's a lot of people sneezing and rubbing their hands on the-- if you're on the subway, like, you see it. You know.
IMMAN ADAN: Yeah, there's no clean surface. Hand sanitizer and masks-- let's--
KATIE HEINDL: Keep it up.
IMMAN ADAN: --everybody.
KATIE HEINDL: Just for that. Who else am I thankful for? I guess I'm thankful for the-- Nick Nurse's probably, like, heart rate and just, like, lowered stress at this point to see. I think, again, like, he got asked.
It might have been in the Nets game, pre-game. Like, are you having fun? Like, is there any part of you that kind of, like, rises to the challenge of, like, putting a 10 man rotation, like, bare minimum rotation out there night after night? And he was just like, no.
Like, not at all. Like, this isn't-- he's like, I understand your question, but absolutely not. I'm, like, a bit tired of it.
IMMAN ADAN: It gives him a chance to wax poetic about his time coaching in England and in the G League. I thought he would love that.
KATIE HEINDL: I feel like he's at a point where he's, like, forwards, not backwards, you know? And to be fair, like, yeah. When you're like, oh yeah, 10 man rotation, that's just your starters in your bench, and that's no room for error. So it was nice to see him in better spirits after a win like that. I'm also pretty thankful, when I look at the schedule's stretch going forward, I think the-- like, the Cavs, a Cavs-Raptors match-up I think we've learned is going to be fun no matter what.
IMMAN ADAN: Yeah.
KATIE HEINDL: They're, like, very interesting developing rivals. They're very equally weirdly matched. Those games are high energy, super high pace. So even with the team looking like it is, I'm looking forward to Monday night's game.
IMMAN ADAN: Yeah.
KATIE HEINDL: Also, when I think farther ahead, Celtics-Lakers. Lakers? Could be fun.
IMMAN ADAN: Who knows?
KATIE HEINDL: Celtics? Might be painful. But these are good-- I think these are good games to go into December with, you know, and I--
IMMAN ADAN: Good gauge.
KATIE HEINDL: --was also-- yeah, I think-- this is more than three things, but the last-- sort of the last thing that was reassuring to me, actually, was just-- and I think-- I hope this is reassuring to Raptors fans. But another thing Fred said last night when he was asked just about, like, their wins and their losses up to now, he's like, what is it? It's the end of November? He's like, we've been playing for like a month? He's like, I'm not worried. Like, I'm not-- if this was March, maybe we'd have a problem.
But like, not that worried right now. So I think that's something to keep in mind, too, right? Perspective.
