Raptors Rapture
Fansided

Toronto Raptors’ franchise record win streak highlights fantastic February

By William Ricks

TORONTO, CANADA - FEBRUARY 10: Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors is announced before the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on February 10, 2020 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2020 NBAE (Photo by Ron Turenne/NBAE via Getty Images)
TORONTO, CANADA - FEBRUARY 10: Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors is announced before the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on February 10, 2020 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2020 NBAE (Photo by Ron Turenne/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Pascal Siakam Toronto (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /

What did we learn?

If there was something to learn about the Toronto Raptors after the past month, it is that they are one of the NBA’s best teams in 2020, surprising considering the loss of Kawhi Leonard. It’s not every day a team loses a Finals MVP and remains a top-tier team the following season.

To the surprise of essentially everyone, the Raptors have exceeded their expectations as a team. They sit at 42-17, just one win away from where they were record-wise last season. That shows how well this team plays together and that they should be taken seriously even though they don’t have that bonified superstar player on their roster (yet).

Nick Nurse has done a masterful job of working with his rotations and continuing to demand hustle and effort from his squad on defence. The defence of the Raptors has been elite all year and has been one of the main ingredients of their unexpectedly great campaign.

Toronto has a defensive rating of 104.5 this season which is second-best in the NBA, only trailing the Milwaukee Bucks. Toronto holds its opponents to 42.6 percent shooting overall, which is again second-best in the league. The Raptors are tied for first in deflections per game (17.4), second in points off turnovers (20.0) and steals per game (8.8).

Oh, and they give up 106.1 points per game, second-lowest in the league.  The defensive display that Toronto has shown all season is simply sensational. Give credit to both Nurse, for the schematics he puts in place, and the players for playing hard on that end of the floor. They hound shooters and clog up passing lanes, forcing their foes to make mistakes that they capitalize on.

Even though they are known for their defence, the Raptors offence is also up there in terms of being one of the best in the league. They average 112.7 points per contest, which is literally a few tenths of a point away from being in the top ten. They are one of the best three-point shooting teams in the association, shooting 37.3 percent behind the arc (fourth highest in the NBA).

For people who favour true shooting percentage, the Dinos are eighth in that category at 57.2 percent.  Not to mention the team is top ten when it comes to sharing the ball, averaging 25.5 assists per game. Their offensive rating is 111.1, which is again a few tenths of a point from entering the top ten.

As much as the defence of the Raptors gets the credit, the offence should be recognized for their great play as well. Just as it is important to prevent the team from scoring, it is also important to score the ball. The Raptors are exceptional at both and are reaping the benefits of being a very solid two-way team.

The Toronto Raptors might not play highlight-worthy basketball, but they win and that is what matters most. Their 42 wins are the third-most in the NBA, only behind the West-leading Lakers and the East-leading Bucks. It wasn’t as clear at the beginning of the NBA season, but it’s time we give the Raptors their credit and acknowledge them as one of the best teams in the league. They have the wins and the stats to prove it. They have earned being recognized as the association’s best and they confirmed that sentiment in February.

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