A decade ago, the Toronto Raptors selected P.J. Tucker. Tucker Played only 17 games in the 2006-2007 season. The Raptors made the playoffs that year, but P.J. Tucker wasn’t the reason why. Now, 10 years later, Tucker is one of the most important players on a Raptors team that knew his talent when no one else did.
After his time in Toronto, Tucker played basketball in Ukraine, Israel, Greece, Italy and Germany. Tucker was then picked up by the Phoenix Suns in 2012, and although his team wasn’t successful, he developed into a real NBA talent.
Tuckers work ethic and incredible defense is known around the league, and was evident on Friday night. Scoring nine points, having ten rebounds, and shutting down Isaiah Thomas, P.J. Tucker had quite a night.
Having no Kyle Lowry in the lineup, P.J. Tucker played the four on the offensive end, and guarded Isaiah Thomas on the defensive end.
Tucker and Ibaka were both acquired over the past couple of weeks, and the two of them played over players like Jonas Valanciunas and Patrick Patterson down the stretch.
Tucker doesn’t care about his stats, he cares about winning. In a win against Portland last night, he played 21 minutes, and scored just one point. Why did he have so little points you ask? Tucker took one shot, and hit it. Having zero turnovers tonight truly helped the Raptors pull off the 112-106 victory.
The Raptors are 2/2 since the All-Star break, and Kyle Lowry is officially out until at least the beginning of the postseason.
Without Lowry, this team took down two teams with elite point guards thanks to suffocating defense by Tucker.
Hopefully this can continue, and the Raptors will hold a top spot in the Eastern Conference come April.
P.J. Tucker wanted to provide for Toronto in 2007, and 10 years later, he finally can.