Takeaways from Toronto Raptors much-needed win vs Brooklyn Nets

A lesson in transition

The recipe for success against the Brooklyn Nets was the Toronto Raptors getting back to basics, back to what makes them such a dangerous team: their defense fuelling the offense.

In plainer terms, the Raptors are a great team in transition. Until recently, they were the best in the NBA, but the Milwaukee Bucks have recently slid in ahead of them in terms of fastbreak points, but barely.

The Bucks average 19.2 fastbreak points per game, while the Raptors average 19.1 fastbreak points per game. It’s agonisingly close, but if the only team doing it better is the best team in the East – and maybe the NBA – then it’s fair to say you’re doing something right.

Against the Nets, the Raptors were as good as ever in transition, putting up 32 fastbreak points, fuelled by 20 turnovers from the Brooklyn Nets.

Those 20 turnovers in the Nets were turned into 29 points by the Toronto Raptors, and their ability to get out of the blocks after winning the ball back is what won the Raptors the game. Kyle Lowry and Pascal Siakam combined for six steals in the game, while the Raptors had 10 blocks overall in the game.

That led to the Raptors being able to dine with their bread and butter, and boy was it beautiful to watch. Even when the perimeter game failed for 36 minutes, the Raptors still found a way to get points on the board.

Thankfully, this could be the win the Raptors needed.

Make sure to check out all of our postgame content at RaptorsRapture.com.