Five takeaways from Toronto Raptors crushing loss to Warriors

Raptors ignoring non-splash brothers

Through two games, the Raptors defense is clearly designed to limit Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. Toronto is allowing the other Warriors players to attack and particularly allowing them to shoot it from beyond the arc.

With Kevin Durant out, Golden State is playing with half-a-deck and the Raptors are trying to take advantage of that.

Check out this possession during the second quarter.

Look how low Norman Powell starts the possession. He is basically playing on the baseline, looking to recover to Gasol’s man in the corner, so Gasol can help on a Curry backdoor.

Meanwhile, Andre Iguodala is given a wide-open three-point shot. Clearly, he doesn’t feel comfortable shooting at this time (unless there just happens to be less than 10-seconds remaining).

Late in the game, with Thompson out, the Raptors even went to a box-and-1. Teams don’t run box-and-1s in the NBA or really even in college. Jeff Van Gundy, who started coaching in the 1980s acted as if he had seen a ghost. It’s highly unconventional and a little disrespectful to the rest of the Warriors roster.

So far, it’s working relatively well. The Warriors offense was held in check over these past two games, as the Raptors struggles on the other side of the ball are the much problem. It’s tough to watch Andrew Bogut and Quinn Cook put up big time performances, but better them than Curry.

As long as Durant is out, expect the Raptors to continue this crazy heavy-sag scheme. If Thompson is unable to go as well, Toronto’s defense will look even more cartoonish.