NBA Finals: Toronto Raptors 'quietly optimistic' OG Anunoby will return

The Toronto Raptors performed at an incredibly high level in taking four consecutive games from the No. 1 seed Milwaukee Bucks. That spurt allowed the Raptors to earn a berth in the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history but, while most of the injury-related attention has been on their opponent in the Golden State Warriors, Toronto is also dealing with a high-profile absence with forward OG Anunoby. 

The 21-year-old forward appeared in 67 games (six starts) during the regular season, averaging 7.0 points and 2.9 rebounds per game while bringing important defensive potential to the table. Anunoby has been on the shelf for the entire playoff run, however, as the former Indiana standout underwent an appendectomy on April 12. In advance of the Finals, though, Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun brings word that the Raptors are "quietly optimistic" that Anunoby could return to action, though it is unclear as to when he might arrive.

On one hand, the Raptors have been able to overcome his absence by shortening the bench and relying more heavily on Norman Powell as the team's top reserve on the wing. That has been successful and Toronto's second unit has been key in propelling them to this point. On the flip side, Anunoby brings length and defensive upside that Powell simply can't match and, against a Warriors team that could include Kevin Durant in the near future, that kind of weapon could be quite useful for Nick Nurse. 

With Anunoby (and Durant) unavailable for Game 1, the Raptors sit as 1-point favorites over the Warriors, largely due to their home-court advantage in front of what will be a raucous environment. There are no guarantees that Anunoby will return but, as the basketball world closely monitors Durant's status, it is worth keeping an eye on a key depth piece for the Eastern Conference champions.