Toronto Raptors: Three keys to series win vs Brooklyn Nets
By Jason Mills
Maintain their defensive intensity
Any deficiencies in the Raptors offensive game are mitigated by the fact that they defend their basket with immense intensity. It’s their identity and even after a three and a half month delay in the season, it’s clear the Raptors take pride in preventing the opposition scoring.
In their first seven games since the season restart, the Raptors have held three opponents under the 100 point mark including the Lakers and allowed only the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics more than 110 points going 1-1 in those two games. A major tenet of team sports is defense wins championships and the Raptors live that message.
After losing a superstar and two starters in the off-season, in Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green, the Raptors are a stronger team defensively than in their championship season. The Raptors own a 104.9 defensive rating which is 2nd best in the NBA. Their opponents’ three-point field goal percentage is only 33.6 percent
In the August 1st, 2020 match against the Los Angeles Lakers, the Raptors held LeBron James to just 20 points and Anthony Davis was contained with just 14 points.
In their 125-121 victory Wednesday over Philadelphia, without OG Anunoby or Serge Ibaka, the Raptors held Joel Embiid to 5 points albeit in just 14 minutes. Against Miami in a 107-103 victory last week Monday, Kendrick Nunn, Jimmy Butler, and Tyler Herro were held to 30 points total.
This has been a season-long theme including early in the season. Joel Embiid was held to zero points in a loss to Toronto.
The Raptors just held Joel Embiid (0-for-11) scoreless for the first time in his career and beat the 76ers without more than a third of their roster.
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) November 26, 2019
They improve to 12-4 and start the season 7-0 at home, matching a franchise record set last year.
Not a top-10 team, though.
Kawhi Leonard shot 2/11 with 12 points and nine turnovers in a Clippers victory over Toronto 98-88 in November. In both of these games, the Raptors had injury troubles, and yet the defensive intensity, philosophy trickles down to all of their reserve players win or lose. Even after the COVID-19 layoff, the Raptors brought the same defensive energy to their games.
If the Toronto Raptors maintain their defensive intensity, which is certainly the most important key to winning the series against the Nets, it will not be a long series at all. Even worse for the Nets is the Raptors are virtually 100 percent healthy.