Previewing the Toronto Raptors series with the Orlando Magic

Raptors offense vs Magic defense

The more compelling of the two matchups, the Raptors offense vs the Magic defense features two top-10 units going head-to-head.

The Raptors finished the season with the fifth-ranked offense and with a unit which picked up efficiency as the season went on.

But when it comes to improvement throughout the year, Toronto will need to take a step back to the Orlando Magic. Orlando finished the season with the eighth-ranked defense in the league. However, they rank FIRST in defensive efficiency since the trade deadline.

At first glance, the Magic don’t have the type of personnel you would expect for one of the league’s premier defenses.

Nikola Vucevic has made strides, and his advanced numbers have taken a significant leap this year. However, his plodding feet and lack of real rim-protection still leave a potential liability to target. D.J. Augustin tries hard and knows his role but is a six-foot-tall 30-year-old. He’s not locking cats down. Evan Fournier has never posted a positive defensive RPM in his entire life. He’s not a complete liability, but he’s an undeniable negative.

Aaron Gordon and Jonathan Isaac are both nice defenders, particularly paired alongside one another. Both natural power forwards, they each have the versatility to feel comfortable guarding posts in the paint or wings on the perimeter. Their combined size, along with Vucevic, can be overwhelming to many opponents.

Their bench personnel is slightly more defensive oriented. Still, the performance of this unit is clearly greater than the sum of its parts.

Two of the Raptors best offensive options, Kawhi Leonard and Pascal Siakam, will be guarded by the strength of the Magic defense. It doesn’t make sense for Toronto to attack Isaac and Gordon, so it will be up to Nurse to generate different matchups.

One way will be to involve Vucevic in as much high pick-and-roll as possible. Force Orlando to try to defend the action with three. Once they do, attack their rotations.

The Raptors aren’t going to avoid Leonard and Pascal on offense, and by need, some of those possessions will have to be against Isaac and Gordon. However, anything Toronto can do to force a switch early in the shot clock will be an important advantage.

Attacking Augustin, Fournier, and Vucevic is smarter than attacking two, young athletic forwards.

If the Raptors can force the Magic into the matchups they want, they should be able to win this side of the ball.