5 reasons the Toronto Raptors can win the Eastern Conference

1. Defensive advantage

It’s not just the offensive side of the floor where Toronto has improved. The offense needed to be re-tailored to a style more conducive to the playoffs, but the Raptors’ third-ranked defense might be an even bigger surprise.

For reference, Toronto ranked a respectable eighth in defensive rating last season, holding opponents to 104.9 points per 100 possessions. This year, full year with Ibaka has raised the bar by limiting teams to 102.6 points per 100 possessions. They join the Golden State Warriors as the only teams in the league to rank in the top-five for both offensive and defensive rating.

This is important, not only because of the old adage, “Defense wins championships,” but also because it’s going to be necessary in a series against either the Celtics or the Cavs. Boston’s top-ranked defense will do its best to slow Toronto’s fourth-ranked offense, but the Raptors can live with that if their imposing defense has its way with Boston’s mediocre, 17th-ranked offense.

As for the Cavs, who rank fifth in offensive rating, it’s no secret their potential downfall will come on the defensive end. If Toronto can somehow keep LeBron James from completely decimating its best defense yet, the offense should have its way with Cleveland’s 28th-ranked defense.

Yes, the Cavs made trades at the deadline to address this problem area, but since those moves, they’re still giving up 106.2 points per 100 possessions, which would rank 16th in the league over the full season.

Next: 2017-18 Week 20 NBA Power Rankings

The Celtics will clamp down in the postseason, which could be dangerous when possessions slow down and games become grind-it-out affairs. However, the Raptors are far more balanced than Boston’s defense-heavy team and the offensively inclined Cavs, which could be the determining factor for this revamped — yet somehow overlooked — Raptors team to finally reach the Finals.