Toronto Raptors: 5 keys to winning the East

3. Ball movement

Playoff basketball is the picture-perfect explanation to those who claim that the NBA does not produce quality basketball action. Even though this statement is more than accurate during these showcasing and stat-padding regular season games, once the playoffs start, nothing remains the same.

The biggest example of playoff modification is defensive intensity. If somebody were to tune in and watch a regular season game tonight, they might stumble upon minor defensive aggression. But teams tend to play better defense once the stakes are higher.

Paint defense becomes the No. 1 priority for most defenses, making it extremely difficult for players lacking a reliable outside shot. Take Ben Simmons and Giannis Antetokounmpo, for example. Instead of stepping up during last season’s playoff run, they took a step back as they struggled to find the adequate space to attack the paint.

The Raptors are not a good 3-point shooting team. They rank 18th in the NBA in 3-point percentage, shooting just 35.2 percent from behind the arc. Fortunately for them, they have another trick up their sleeve called ball movement, serving the purpose of creating more open looks for the team’s shooters.

There is a certain passing statistic called a secondary assist. A secondary assist is a pass leading to an assist within two seconds and one dribble. The Raptors are currently tied for first place with the Golden State Warriors in secondary assists per game, meaning they move the ball with ease and do not shoot the basketball immediately after receiving it.

This kind of ball movement is going to come in handy when going up against tight defenses. Take the San Antonio Spurs dynasty, for example, as a team where sharing the basketball was the top priority. All those banners hanging in the AT&T Center certainly prove sharing the ball is the way to go.