Knicks defense vs Raptors offense
New York ranked 23rd in defensive efficiency last season. In a short sample size, they’re all the way up to 14th this year. Perhaps they’ve taken a significant step forward, however, given their personnel, last year’s bottom-third figure seems like a more accurate projection of what to expect moving forward.
On the wings, New York has some defensive talent. Courtney Lee is a crafty-veteran. Tim Hardaway Jr. is nothing special but is far from a liability. Franky “Smokes” Ntilikina has the ability to make an all-defensive team one day.
The problem resides everywhere else. The head of the snake, for the time being, is Allonzo Trier and Emmanuel Mudiay. Both are big athletic guards capable of swallowing up opposing point guards athletically. The problem is, at this time, neither player has shown the consistency required to be an above-average defender.
Kristaps Porzingis is solid. His rebounding leaves something to be desired, but his spectacular rim-protection and quick feet make up for it. When Porzingis can play his natural position of center, he can be a menace. When he is forced to play power forward, he grades out as nothing more than average.
The rest of the frontcourt is UGLY.
Mitchell Robinson is a rookie. He shows flashes of a good defender but hasn’t gotten there yet.
Noah Vonleh is okay. Mario Hezonja is straight up bad.
But the most significant liability of all, locking down the center position, is Enes Kanter. Kanter’s defensive metrics have been terrible his entire career, and the tape backs up those numbers completely. He’s ground-bound, slow-footed, and not aware. Even Billy Donovan agrees that you “Can’t play Kanter.”
That is precisely where Toronto will attack. Expect Serge Ibaka and Pascal Siakam to spend plenty of time making Enes Kanter look silly in pick-and-roll coverage.
If New York tries to counter with a small-ball lineup, or with rookie Mitchell Robinson, then Nurse can fire back with big-man Jonas Valanciunas.
Another impact of a poor frontcourt is an exposed rim. Toronto will attack both off the dribble and through cutting action, challenging Enes Kanter and company to stop penetration.
Expect Toronto to average an offensive rating somewhere between 115-120 against the Knicks this year. (Toronto’s offensive rating was 111 as a whole last season).