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Toronto Raptors: Five questions ahead of training camp in September

By Justin Johnson

TORONTO, ON - JULY 20 - Toronto Raptors President Masai Ujiri talks to the media during a press conference about the DeMar DeRozan-Kawhi Leonard trade at Scotiabank Arena, Toronto. July 20, 2018. Bernard Weil/Toronto Star (Bernard Weil/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - JULY 20 - Toronto Raptors President Masai Ujiri talks to the media during a press conference about the DeMar DeRozan-Kawhi Leonard trade at Scotiabank Arena, Toronto. July 20, 2018. Bernard Weil/Toronto Star (Bernard Weil/Toronto Star via Getty Images) /
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Toronto Raptors – Nick Nurse (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /

What Should Be The Point Of Emphasis For This Season?

Toronto was the only team in the Eastern Conference last year to be a top five Offensive and Defensive team in terms of efficiency. The problem was, they still did not have one defined strength.

The Raptors ranked high in offensive efficiency, yet when the game started to tighten, they resorted to their old isolation offense. They were also favored by numbers for their defense, but the playoffs proved that number may have been more of a mirage than anything else.

A possible lineup of Kyle Lowry, Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard, Serge Ibaka, and one of OG Anunoby or Pascal Siakam to close games would be scary defensively. Using OG in that lineup would also make them a very good shooting team. Four of the five players shot over 36-percent from three last year with Kawhi being the only one to not hit that mark. However, Kawhi only played 9 games and shot 38-percent and 44-percent the years before.

During training camp, Nick Nurse get a good look at the group of shooters and defenders he will have on his roster. He will likely focus on increasing the pace and ball movement on offense due to the addition of multiple guards and the way his offense looked last year with the bench unit.