Raptors Rapture
Fansided

Raptors suffering from an identity crisis

By Sahal Abdi

May 25, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Toronto Raptors head coach Dwane Casey talks to his team during a timeout in the third quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers in game five of the Eastern conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavs won 116-78. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
May 25, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Toronto Raptors head coach Dwane Casey talks to his team during a timeout in the third quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers in game five of the Eastern conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavs won 116-78. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next

Raptors’ adaptability

The Raptors’ overall identity has reshaped itself year-to-year under Dwane Casey with the different rosters Toronto has deployed. Early on, the well-known mantra ‘Pound the Rock’ was coined as the defensive catchphrase brought from the former-NBA champion Dallas Mavericks. Casey strived to bring a physical, defense-first identity to a team struggling to find itself in the NBA landscape.

Dec 20, 2013; Dallas, TX, USA; Toronto Raptors power forward Amir Johnson (bottom) celebrates with point guard Kyle Lowry (7) and shooting guard DeMar DeRozan (10) after defeating the Dallas Mavericks in overtime at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 20, 2013; Dallas, TX, USA; Toronto Raptors power forward Amir Johnson (bottom) celebrates with point guard Kyle Lowry (7) and shooting guard DeMar DeRozan (10) after defeating the Dallas Mavericks in overtime at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /

Long story short, it worked.

The Raptors quickly became defensive nightmares for opposing teams for the next two years.

Then came the 2014-2015 season, where former Raptors guard, Lou Williams helped lead one of the top offenses in the NBA. Casey adapted the team to an isolation-based system due to the strengths of its three best players (Lowry, DeRozan, Williams).

What ultimately became the Raptors downfall was their extreme lack of defense they displayed. Williams and DeRozan, were defensively inept, to say the least. The Raptors were plainly outscoring teams in shootouts all regular season long. It was fun while it lasted, but a 4-0 playoff sweep to the Washington Wizards gave the Raptors’ organization serious pause.

A year later, defensive reinforcements in the form of Cory Joseph, DeMarre Carroll and Bismack Biyombo restored balance to a team that relied too heavily on one phase of the game. The eventual outcome was the Raptors making their first-ever Eastern Conference Finals appearance in franchise history. To the Raptors’ credit, many believed the Cavaliers series would be an easy sweep for LeBron and co. 

Boy, were they wrong.

May 27, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) drives to the basket as Toronto Raptors forward DeMarre Carroll (5) tries to defend during the first quarter of game six of the Eastern conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
May 27, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) drives to the basket as Toronto Raptors forward DeMarre Carroll (5) tries to defend during the first quarter of game six of the Eastern conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports /

Over the years, the Raptors have completely changed identities from defensive powerhouses to an aesthetically offensive superpower to a more playoff-prepared, balanced roster.

Home/Raptors News