Norman Powell sees the bigger picture

The stretching looks as painful as it does necessary. A trainer works meticulously, each motion equally gentle and firm; an iron fist in a latex glove. Limbs are pulled and pushed as the player splayed out across the table grits his teeth in acceptance. This continues for minutes before he stands and follows the next part of the routine. The process goes on for an uncomfortable while longer.

The session follows a designated shootaround that afternoon, which was preceded by an unscheduled practice earlier that morning. There is a game to be played as well, one which might require you to run, leap and fall at a rate mere mortals can never comprehend.

Or, as in the case of the Toronto Raptor’s Norman Powell, you might simply wind up a spectator.

For Powell, nothing changes. whether he’s chosen to start or remains glued to the bench. In just his second year in the NBA, he already understands the erratic nature of playing time.

Far from being dismayed, however, he seems to embrace it, and the consistency of preparing for each game the same way certainly helps. “I just focus on a bigger picture,” Powell calmly explains and suddenly it makes more sense.

The routine is there for a reason and it is meant to be followed.

*****

Powell’s case is certainly not an aberration. As a second-round draft selection in 2015, playing time was far from guaranteed. It does, however, underscore how tenuous a player’s chance of success can be.

The Raptors were in a bind during that particular summer. They were expected to be a playoff team but advancing past the first round had escaped the franchise for over a decade. Star point guard Kyle Lowry had been re-signed to a long-term deal but, as a longtime journeyman, his continued success wasn’t a sure thing. His backcourt mate, DeMar DeRozan, was entering a contract year and any number of suitors would have gladly accepted his unique brand of scoring prowess. With high expectations and an unsure future, a backup plan was definitely needed and Powell fit the bill perfectly.

As a four-year player at UCLA, Powell had his chance to demonstrate the elite athleticism that could make him a valuable member of any team. But there were concerns about his perimeter shooting and, after a prolonged collegiate career, teams shied away from selecting someone whose basketball career might already have been near its peak.

“I wish I could find more minutes for him. I really do.” — Dwane Casey

Instead, Powell showed flashes of potential during his rookie year and proved to be one of the best values in a draft that looks to be historically great. Injuries forced the Raptors to juggle their lineup regularly and Powell found himself as the beneficiary, starting 24 games and appearing in 49 games last season. Concerns about his shooting were put to rest as he shot a spectacular 40.4 percent from 3-point range. In mid-April, he scored a career-high 30 points.

As the postseason rolled around, Powell had asserted himself as a major part of head coach Dwane Casey’s rotation. The rookie didn’t disappoint in his first taste of playoff action, playing in 18 games and showing a defensive tenacity and willingness to guard an opposing team’s best players.

The Raptors’ season was ended in the Eastern Conference Finals by the Cleveland Cavaliers, the eventual NBA champions. When the free agency period began, they would re-sign DeRozan to a five-year deal, preserving the team’s core for years to come. Powell, the player who had met every challenge he faced as a rookie, was expected to be a significant part of the team’s future success.

*****

Life is often filled with unexpected dichotomies. The things that seemingly work for you can also work against you and Powell is not immune to the phenomenon.

“A lot of people think if you’re a four-year guy, you don’t have anything else to give.” — Norman Powell

Toronto’s expectations are high this season and the roster is just as deep. After a solid rookie year, Powell is too advanced to be deemed a long-term project but not good enough to supplant the team’s veteran core. Playing behind DeRozan, Terrence Ross and the now-healthy DeMarre Carroll, he has to wait for an opportunity. For a player to take a day of rest. For a blowout that might not come.

Powell has appeared in 23 total games, starting five of them, but predicting how long he’ll play is impossible. Casey has also elected to keep Powell out of action on four separate occasions. The coach admits that the decision is a hard one, as he explained to The Step Back:

“He’s in a tough situation. There are no magic words and he understands who he is, the role he’s in, where he is in this league and is taking advantage of the opportunity. He’s in a good spot with our team, with himself…I wish I could find more minutes for him. I really do. Every time we need minutes and I look down the bench, that’s who we would go to.”

While it’s that depth that sometimes keeps Powell from soaring at times, it’s also kept him grounded in a positive way. There’s a value in practicing against top-tier players like Lowry and DeRozan, not to mention learning from their collective experiences in a league that is often harsh and unforgiving.

“The guys on the team do a great job of helping me stay level-headed,” said Powell, “Talking to me and working with me. Vets like DeMarr, Patrick Patterson, Kyle, Terrence, Jared [Sullinger]…they’re all helping me. Especially Cory Joseph, having gone through a similar situation when he was in San Antonio.”

One of the lessons they’ve imparted is the value of the aforementioned routine, in staying prepared every night when you might not know what happens next. “Work the same way as if I was in the starting lineup or gonna play 25-30 minutes a game,” said Powell. “I’m doing what the team is asking of me. It’s not an unfamiliar situation for me. I’ve been here before so it’s easy for me to adjust and I’ll just stay ready.”

The familiarity, Powell explains, came from his tenure at UCLA, a storied program where everything was earned. “In college, I had to wait my turn. Work, having to fight for playing time. Prove that I can play,” he said. “I’ve been here before and I know what I can do. I know my expectations haven’t changed for myself.”

Powell was quick to point out that the collegiate experience undoubtedly prepared him for life as a professional. “Staying at UCLA for four years, seeing a whole bunch of situations for me early on and being able to experience that and grow from my situation there really helped me,” said Powell, “Being a young player and knowing that it takes work and patience to get where you want to be.”

Where he wants to be has always been clear. Powell has always played with an edge, even if that doesn’t appear obvious when talking with him. Slipping to the second round in the draft added to that omnipresent chip on his shoulder and the dichotomy is revealed once more.

When asked why he thinks his draft position was so low, Sullinger chimes in. He holds up a hand and counts down, one meaty finger at a time, “Four-year senior, four-year senior, four-year…” The point is clearly made.

Powell nods in agreement and adds, “Yeah. A lot of people think if you’re a four-year guy, you don’t have anything else to give, you’ve already shown what you can do. So I think that affected me and my 3-point shot…people didn’t think I could shoot in the league.” Powell has connected on nearly 43 percent of his 3-point shot attempts this season. “But I was able to make adjustments, coming here and talking to the coaches. People thought I couldn’t get any better…” He shrugs his shoulders and there’s really nothing more to say.

The work continues for Powell, both on- and off-the-court. He dedicated the past summer to developing that shot consistently and tightening the ball-handling skills that will allow him to play a larger role as an offensive facilitator. The mental aspect, however, might be where Powell drives himself hardest. He wants to understand each nuance, how to read the complex situations that play out during every game. That might seem difficult given his unpredictable playing time, but Powell doesn’t let that stop him. “I talk to the coaches before and see what they want me to do and who my matchup [potentially] is and prepare that way. My individual prep and my mentality — how I approach each game — that doesn’t change.”

There’s still plenty of time for Powell to realize his potential. It’s rarely easy to answer what you think your ceiling can be — outside of sport, it’s a question that’s never asked at all. But Powell doesn’t flinch, and that edge starts to sharpen as he responds, “I feel like I can be one of the best players in the league.” Continuing to learn from the All-Stars on the roster and incorporate aspects of their game is key, adds Powell, so that he can “be able to get in their position” someday.

Watch Powell on the bench and you see him continuously searching, adding, taking it all in. During a recent game in Orlando, a foul was charged to Patterson, leading Casey to call a quick timeout. Powell leapt to his feet greeting each man and slapping hands as they shuffled off the floor. Patterson had stayed behind to argue the call and Powell, stood nearby, watching the exchange.

Even this lesson is important, a small yet vital part of helping Powell reach his desired goal. After talking with Patterson, he walked back slowly, head hung low, to the bench where he would remain for most the game. This might have been out of frustration but it’s likely he was just deep in thought, processing what he just learned. After all, each experience sheds more light and the bigger picture becomes just a little more focused.