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Toronto Raptors: 3 x-factors for the team to succeed in NBA’s Orlando restart

By Luke Duffy

TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 25: Singer Drake high fives Matt Thomas #21 of the Toronto Raptors during the first half of an NBA game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Scotiabank Arena on February 25, 2020 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 25: Singer Drake high fives Matt Thomas #21 of the Toronto Raptors during the first half of an NBA game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Scotiabank Arena on February 25, 2020 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /
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Toronto Raptors
Toronto Raptors (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /

2. Offensive/defensive balance

They say defense wins championships, and in the case of the Raptors, they’ve got an elite one of those and a whole lot more. On the season so far they rank second in defensive rating (104.9), behind only the Bucks. As mentioned already the personnel and depth on the roster make this possible.

This despite having smaller players like VanVleet and Lowry (who is strong and tenacious when tracking opponents) play big minutes for them. Gasol is a former defensive player of the year, while Ibaka has always been strong on that end too (with the exception of his brief stint with the Magic).

Offensively they are closer to league average (12th, 111.3), but that doesn’t tell the whole story. The Raptors rank sixth in 3-point shooting percentage (37.1 percent) and are just over a percent away from the Miami Heat, who occupy top spot (38.3 percent).

Related Story. Raptors: Player grades compared to expectations. light

This ability to defend at a high level and score on opponents from deep at a near-elite rate in relation to the rest of the league is a real recipe for success. Even returning to offensive rating, their weakest numbers among the three discussed, and only the Bucks and Celtics are placed above them (so too are the Heat, who are coming to Orlando to ruffle some feathers too).

Another encouraging sign is the fact that they have five players who are all currently averaging over 15 points per game (Siakam, Lowry, VanVleet, Ibaka and Norman Powell). Siakam has really ascended to do his best impression of the departed Leonard, but this is a team built on scoring by committee, and it has worked really well for them.

So the Raptors look perfectly placed to damage opponents while also holding them to fewer points than they are accustomed to scoring. When you factor in that the tempo of the games will slow down in the postseason as well, this is a style of play that the Raptors will be comfortable with, as they strangle the life out of the teams they face and grind them down (their pace is right around league average at 100.8).

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