Should the Toronto Raptors play small ball?

This summer, Toronto Raptors GM Masai Ujiri has added several new players in the hopes of bolstering the Raptors’ defence and providing more depth. In addition, many significant contributors from the 2014/15 campaign have found other homes. So, with such a radically different roster, what is the team’s best possible starting lineup?

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As far as I see it, head coach Dwane Casey has two viable options. One option is that Casey can employ a small ball lineup, which has never been more popular in the NBA due to the success of the Golden State Warriors last season. Alternatively, he can use a standard starting lineup, which his roster can more naturally handle.

Small ball: Kyle Lowry (PG), Cory Joseph (SG), DeMar DeRozan (SF), DeMarre Carroll (PF) and Patrick Patterson (C).

Obviously, this lineup looks a little awkward on paper. Still, the Warriors won a championship with a 6-7 center (Draymond Green). This is a lineup that would prioritize ball movement, tempo and 3-point shooting. Every player in this starting group can run the floor effectively and shoot from beyond-the-arc, which would automatically put just about any opposing team off-kilter.

With this lineup, Joseph would become a starter as an undersized shooting guard. This could actually work well because of Joseph’s ability cover either guard position and his shooting prowess.

Joseph’s promotion would equal Jonas Valanciunas’ demotion out of the starting lineup, which is problematic considering the effort that has been put into making JV the future of the franchise. But, Valanciunas offers very little for a small ball lineup, since he isn’t particularly fast and he can’t shoot from deep. So, Patrick Patterson would play center, given up size and rebounding for shooting and speed.

Standard: Kyle Lowry (PG), DeMar DeRozan (SG), DeMarre Carroll (SF), Patrick Patterson (PF) and Jonas Valanciunas (C).

This is the lineup Ujiri intended when he formed the roster , but that doesn’t make it the preferable option. Here, the Raptors would be very balanced, offering a mix of inside presence and perimeter attack. Valanciunas would provide much-needed rebounding, but the team would miss a good facilitator in the starting lineup without Joseph. Regularly, Lowry is great at moving the ball, but he has gradually become less inclined to pass and more inclined to shoot, leaving the door open for another passer.

All that being said, Valanciunas is a budding star. He means a lot to this team and his presence should not be taken for granted. Though his presence in the lineup would not allow for tactical mismatches like the small ball lineup, JV has shown he can get it done on both sides of the court against just about anyone.

Overall, the small ball lineup is worth using at important points throughout games, but the Raps should stick with the standard permutation. The roster Ujiri created ultimately fits extremely well with regular positioning.

Next: Three 3-point shooters for the Raptors?

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