"He stepped into the starting lineup 11 times amid Toronto's injury-plagued campaign, and in those opportunities, he showed flashes of being more than just a steady reserve. Shead averaged just over 10 points and nearly 7 assists in 27.3 minutes across those starts, highlighted by a career-high 12-assist outing in a win over Brooklyn on April 6 and a 17-point performance in a blowout loss against San Antonio on March 23."
"What set him apart was his defensive intensity-something not fully captured by his 1.1 defensive win shares. When locked in, Shead smothered ball-handlers, disrupted sets, and gave Toronto a defensive edge at the point of attack. His second calling card is his playmaking. A true pass-first point guard-something increasingly rare in today's NBA-Shead thrives as a floor general, though his tendency to thread risky passes sometimes led to turnovers."
"Looking forward, his biggest developmental step is efficiency. Last season's league averages sat at 46.7% from the field, 36.7% from three, and 78% at the line. Shead has work to do in all three areas. A realistic next step would be bumping his production to around 9 points and 5 assists per game off the bench, while tightening up his decision-making and committing to consistent defensive effort. Too often, his intensity on that end came in bursts rather than over full stretches."
Jamal Shead appeared in 75 games and started 11 times, averaging just over 10 points and nearly 7 assists in those starts. He averaged 19.6 minutes, 7.1 points, 4.2 assists, and 0.8 steals on 40.5% shooting and 32.3% from three for the season. Defensive intensity and on-ball pressure define his impact, while playmaking as a pass-first floor general creates value despite risky passes and turnovers. Efficiency at the rim, three-point range, and free throws requires improvement. A realistic progression is roughly 9 points and 5 assists off the bench with steadier defense and smarter decisions.
Read at Raptors Republic
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