DEFENCE CAN RETURN RAPTORS TO THE TITLE MIX
Toronto has some unique characteristics that could propel team to long playoff run
The Toronto Raptors will conclude their bizarre regular season Friday afternoon against the Denver Nuggets. The NBA playoffs will begin on Monday.
Here are some things we’ve learned from how the team has performed in Orlando:
1. These guys can defend: Since the season restarted, offence has increased substantially overall in the NBA. It turns out no travel or distractions results in more inspired play. The thing is, though, nobody has shut teams down better than the Raptors. Toronto was one of the best defensive teams before the March stoppage, despite missing all of its top defenders save for OG Anunoby for large chunks of the season.
But they’ve been next level in August, surrendering only 101.8 points per 100 possessions. Houston has made it work defensively, too, despite going ultra-small, surrendering only 103.7 points per 100, but the gap between these two teams and the rest of the league is massive. Oklahoma City and Memphis both are surrendering about 107 points. The Los Angeles Clippers have given up 115.4 points per 100, the Lakers 110.2.
Toronto can guard the rim, get up on ballhandlers and still contest three-pointers well. If defence wins championships, the champs should be right back in the mix.
2. They give up a ton of three-pointers, but it doesn’t seem to matter: Sticking with the defence, Toronto has allowed 42.4 three-point attempts per game in Orlando, behind only Milwaukee. But like the Bucks, Toronto still shuts down opponents. Whether it’s the right foes getting up all of those shots, or the fact that long-limbed players like Pascal Siakam, Serge Ibaka, Marc Gasol and Anunoby are constantly lunging to contest shots, opponents just can’t seem to take advantage of all of those attempts. They’ve only connected on 32.3 per cent of them, which is about tied for third-lowest in the league.
Because they lock down the rim so well, preventing easy scores at the bucket, the Raptors can be a bit unconventional in how they scheme. That includes allowing teams to fire away from deep without fear of the consequences.
3. They are about as deep as it gets: The proven formula in the NBA is have an all-time-great leading the way (like Lebron James, Michael Jordan, Kawhi Leonard or Tim Duncan, for example) and pair them with a couple other all-star calibre players and good role players and you’ll contend for a title. It worked for Toronto last year. But with Leonard gone, they had to take a different approach: Stack solid players everywhere and let it extend to your bench. Of course, it helps if Siakam and Anunoby both take another step forward, but Toronto has managed to win more than 70 per cent of the time despite constantly having injured players unable to suit up.
Besides five quality starters, the Raptors boast two viable sixth-man-of-the-year calibre players in Serge Ibaka and Norman Powell, who both arguably had career seasons. Terence Davis and Rondae Hollis-jefferson can also be relied on and Chris Boucher has had a nice little run to close the year. According to Statmuse, Toronto is the first team with five players averaging 15 points per game since the 1973-74 Buffalo Braves.
4. The two point-guard look has been a major success: Many thought the Kyle Lowry/fred Vanvleet pairing would be too small to be a viable starting backcourt, but instead the two bulldogs have both been outstanding at both ends of the floor. Vanvleet’s ensured himself a massive payday by being both one of the NBA’S premier on-ball defenders and a steady floor general who can shoot. Lowry’s been his old self, a future Hall of Famer despite being the team’s elder statesmen. Could they falter against a gigantic team? It’s possible, but they probably aren’t running into Philadelphia again (and even if they do, Ben Simmons is likely out), so they should be fine.
5. They need more out of Siakam: This isn’t to put everything on
Siakam, but he would be the first to admit he was uneven offensively in Orlando and needs to provide more on that end as the team’s primary scorer. Toronto was just 19th of the 22 teams in Orlando in offensive efficiency, a stark difference from the rest of the season, when the Raptors were one of the deadliest offensive squads.
Much of this is owing to a huge uptick in turnovers. The Raptors played pretty uncharacteristically in Orlando, posting a 17-percent turnover rate heading into the Denver game. Only New Orleans (17.6 per cent) had a higher turnover percentage.
Expect the team to be a little less cute with the ball when the playoffs start. But Siakam is going to have to be a reliable 23-26 point a night threat for the season to last into September or October.