Who is the best defender on the Toronto Raptors?

3. Stanley Johnson

By now, you might have gone back to watch the defensive highlights from Stanley Johnson guarding Kawhi Leonard last season. In this game, Leonard had 5 turnovers and was held to 33-percent shooting when guarded by  Stanley Johnson.

Kawhi is a strong basketball player who often uses his strength to take advantage of the opposing defender. What should be taken from that game is Stanley Johnson’s ability to overcome that and him forcing Kawhi to try and beat him with craftiness rather than power. This results in multiple turnovers late in the game including two steals and a possession where Kawhi dribbles off his foot.

Most people see the Philadelphia 76ers and the Milwaukee Bucks as the top two teams in the East. Both of them have player 6 foot 10 inches or taller that are considered the team’s primary ball-handler. For the 76ers it’s Ben Simmons, for Milwaukee it’s Giannis Antetokounmpo. Stanley Johnson will be asked to guard them the same way he defended Kawhi in this video, by using his strength and forcing them to beat him other ways.

Matchup data also shows the effect he has on players who don’t necessarily need strength to beat you off the dribble like Kevin Durant who only shot 33-percent against Stanley Johnson.  If he is able to develop an offensive game to go with his defense, there is a chance he could compete for a larger role as the season goes on.