Toronto Raptors Defense Key To Potential Finals Run

If the Toronto Raptors are going to reach the Finals for the first time ever, it’ll be because of their defense.

While the health of Kyle Lowry remains up in the air, things are still looking very good for the Toronto Raptors. The team has put up an impressive 12-6 record since the All-Star break, all without their best player.

While the play of DeMar DeRozan as well as the additions of P.J. Tucker and Serge Ibaka deserve credit, it’s the team’s collective effort on defense that has been the driving force for the team’s success.

Since the All-Star break, the Raptors have a defensive rating of 102.2. That rating is the third-best defensive efficiency in the league over that point, trailing only the Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs.

The success on the defensive end has helped make up for the team’s 15th-ranked offense over that period of time.

While Toronto had a very good offense over the last few years, it was clear that something had been missing. The Raptors simply do not have enough talent to win in an offensive shootout against the Cavaliers, Warriors, or Spurs.

If they were going to make noise in the playoffs, things needed to turn around on the defensive end.

Dwane Casey has always had a reputation as a defensive coach throughout his career. However during his time with the Raptors, the team has never been a high-level defensive unit.

When Casey took over the team in 2011, they were coming off a season as the worst defensive unit in the NBA. Until this season, the team had never finished higher than 11th in defensive efficiency.

This season the Raptors have posted the league’s eighth best defense for the year. They are currently one of four teams that have a top-10 offense and defense this season. Only Golden State, the Spurs and the Celtics also can lay claim to that status.

A large part of the reason for the strong defensive output has been the additions of Tucker and Ibaka. Prior to their additions to the team, the Raptors were ranked 16th in defensive efficiency. Yet in little more than a month, the players have turned around the numbers in a big way.

Toronto Raptors /

Toronto Raptors

Both players bring a toughness and leadership that has been lacking throughout the season. Even when games are getting out of hand, they bring a steadiness that the team craves.

When the Raptors would get involved in a high-scoring game in the past, the team would abandon defense and embrace being in a shoot-out. With Tucker on the court, he seems to take a rocky start on defense personally.

Rather than go with the established flow, he comes out with fire and intensity to stop the bleeding.

What Ibaka and Tucker bring in addition to their toughness, is versatility. The team can play with them as power forward and small forward. Or they can go with the duo as the team’s “big men.”

This small ball look allows the Raptors to have two players capable of switching onto wings in the pick and roll, and negate the opponent’s efforts to get into the paint.

In the past this area of the Raptors defense had been a glaring hole. Jonas Valanciunas, Lucas Nogueira and other big men have lacked the foot-speed to get out onto the perimeter. This has caused the team to be exposed by stretch bigs like Kevin Love, Channing Frye or Draymond Green.

Now the Raptors are far better suited to deal with the league’s elite, without a glaring Achilles heel. By making team’s work for their offense, you’re in a much better position to capitalize on an opportunity for an upset.

Of course the Raptors aren’t going to go anywhere without Lowry playing close to 100 percent. But the defense they are playing may help buy them more time for him to get into a rhythm. Rather than tasking him with carrying the team from the first moment he laces up his shoes.

Since the All-Star break, the Cavaliers are ranked 29th in defensive efficiency. While the team has shown the ability to flip the switch in the past, there are legitmate reasons to believe they are vulnerable.

As a result of injuries and roster turnover, the Cavs don’t have much continuity heading into the post-season. Tristan Thompson is also dealing with an injury, which could limit their defensive ceiling if he cannot get right.

More from Hoops Habit

The Raptors would surely be the under dog in a possible Eastern Conference Finals rematch. However, the struggles of the Cavs do open the door to the possibility of an upset.

If the Raptors can limit their effectiveness on offense, as well as capitalize on a vulnerable defense, they could reach the Finals for the first time in their history.

There’s still games to be played and seeding to be resolved. But the Raptors undoubtedly have the best roster the franchise has ever had. Lowry’s return still leaves much in question as the playoffs approach.

Surgery on his shooting hand may mean that he won’t return to his former self until after the summer. But when he returns, he will be asked to carry a lesser load than at any point over the last three seasons.

For the Raptors, this is as good of a position as they could ask to be in. They didn’t give up a lot to upgrade their team, but the moves have worked out better than anybody could have expected. They have a revamped defense and their best chance of making the Finals in franchise history.

Next: NBA Injuries: 20 Stars That Deserve Career Do-Overs

All that’s required now is some luck and to continue executing on a high level.

Home/Toronto Raptors