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Toronto Raptors: 5 Reasons Behind Strong Start

By Gerald Bourguet

Nov 25, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry (7) gets ready as guard DeMar DeRozan (10) and center Bismack Biyombo (8) look on while Cleveland Cavaliers forward Tristan Thompson (13) looks on at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Cavaliers 103-99. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 25, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry (7) gets ready as guard DeMar DeRozan (10) and center Bismack Biyombo (8) look on while Cleveland Cavaliers forward Tristan Thompson (13) looks on at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Cavaliers 103-99. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Toronto Raptors
Dec 5, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors forward DeMarre Carroll (5) defends against Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) during the first half at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Defensive Identity

We’ve touched on this briefly throughout the piece, but the Toronto Raptors’ top-10 defense is the biggest reason behind their strong start to the 2015-16 season. Even on the nights when Lowry and/or DeRozan can’t get their shots to fall, Toronto’s defense has been capable of keeping them in games, which might explain why eight of their 10 losses have been by six points or less.

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    • The Raptors sport a defensive rating of 99.8 points allowed per 100 possessions, the 10th best mark in the league. They’re holding opponents to 42.6 percent shooting (fifth), they’re stingy with opponent points in the paint (38.2 per game, which ranks third) and they boast a defensive field goal percentage of -1.8 percent (sixth).

    Valencianas has developed a reputation as a flat-footed sieve on the defensive end, but even before his forced absence from the lineup, the Raptors were still a top-10 defense.

    By changing their pick-and-roll coverage to encourage midrange attempts or force opponents to go baseline, JV and Biyombo haven’t been left on an island trying to defend quicker ball-handlers. This allows the Raptors’ bigs to focus on what they’re good at: protecting the rim, which they’ve done well, holding opponents to 3.0 percent worse shooting on shots from less than six feet.

    The Raptors’ defense isn’t perfect; that protect-the-basket-at-all-costs mentality leaves them prone to giving up three-pointers, which opponents are converting at a 35.6 percent rate — the sixth highest mark in the league. But unlike last year, Toronto has a defense capable of getting them past the first round of the playoffs this time.

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    Casey may not be the greatest X’s and O’s coach in the league, and he’s had as many problems with his lineups as anyone in the NBA during his time in Toronto, but with defensive additions like Biyombo, Carroll and Cory Joseph taking on expanded roles, he’s been able to field a competent defense, which is the biggest reason behind the Raptors’ 16-10 start to the season.

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