The Raptors are in a tight battle for the final playoff spots in the Eastern Conference. It is the most critical part of the season, and Jamal Shead has elevated his play to give the team a steady presence when it matters most.<\/p>\n
Helping the team win his way<\/p>\n
Over the last 10 games, Shead has averaged an unremarkable<\/a> 6.6 points. However, he has never been someone you look to for a big scoring burst.<\/p>\n He is, however, one of the team\u2019s best facilitators. In that same stretch, he has averaged 7.7 assists and only 1.2 turnovers. That 6.2 assist-to-turnover ratio is an elite number and much more reminiscent of Jamal Shead from the first half of the season.<\/p>\n From February 1st to the beginning of this 10-game stretch, Shead was averaging <\/a>only 4.0 assists to 1.4 turnovers. Those were mediocre numbers for a backup point guard, and for a player like Shead, who relies so heavily on playmaking to make a positive impact, it limited his overall value.<\/p>\n Aside from the raw numbers, Shead is back in control of the offense when he has the ball. When appropriate, he is pushing the pace in transition, getting the team organized in the halfcourt, and consistently looking a step ahead of the defense.<\/p>\n Shead has emerged as an unsung hero amid Quickley absence<\/p>\n Immanuel Quickley has missed the last seven games due to injury. Rightfully, Scottie Barnes has gotten a lot of attention since Quickley went down. Barnes has stepped into the lead guard role and averaged <\/a>11.0 assists. He has been a marvel to watch, and everyone has taken notice.<\/p>\n Shead has gotten significantly less praise, but he has also stepped up in a huge way. In the last seven games, he is putting up an outstanding 8.7 assists to 1.4 turnovers. He has also increased his scoring to 8.6 points per game.<\/p>\n His plus\/minus reflects just how important he has been with Quickley sidelined. The Raptors are +109<\/a> with Shead on the floor over the last seven games, compared to +63 <\/a>overall, meaning they have been significantly better with him in the game.<\/p>\n