Toronto Raptors: 3 takeaways from Game 4 vs. Wizards

1. Wizards win the battle of the backcourt

With a combined 58 points on 20-of-45 shooting for Wall and Beal, compared to 54 on 17-of-44 for Lowry and DeRozan, Washington won the battle of the backcourts in Game 4.

While a difference of only four points seems too minuscule to consider either side a victor, it’s the way in which each team plays that gives the advantage to Washington.

The Wizards are a team that relies heavily on their backcourt to produce basically everything for the team on the offensive end. If they play well, Washington can hang with the NBA’s elite. If they struggle, the Wizards have a tough time beating the league’s cellar dwellers.

Toronto used to be the same way, living or dying on the night by night greatness of both Lowry and DeRozan, but after an offseason restructuring by head coach Dwane Casey, they’ve become a team that likes to share the wealth among all 15 on the roster.

If the Raptors hope to eliminate the Wizards, it starts with their backcourt outplaying Washington’s.

Lowry and DeRozan could look to get into a shootout with Wall and Beal, but it would compromise their newfound offensive gameplan, seemingly playing into Washington’s hands, as the duo of Wall and Beal could certainly outscore Lowry and DeRozan in any given game.

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Rather, Toronto’s best bet is to try and limit the volume of both Wall and Beal, thereby virtually turning off the Wizards offense altogether.