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Takeaways: Toronto Raptors collect massive Game 1 win over Brooklyn Nets

By Michael Walton

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 17: Fred VanVleet #23 of the Toronto Raptors defends Caris LeVert #22 of the Brooklyn Nets during the first half in game one of the first round of the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 17, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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. (Photo by Kim Klement-Pool/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 17: Fred VanVleet #23 of the Toronto Raptors defends Caris LeVert #22 of the Brooklyn Nets during the first half in game one of the first round of the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 17, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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. (Photo by Kim Klement-Pool/Getty Images) /
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LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA – AUGUST 03: Goran Dragic #7 of the Miami Heat drives against Marc Gasol #33 and Fred VanVleet #23 of the Toronto Raptors. (Photo by Ashley Landis-Pool/Getty Images) /

3. The Toronto Raptors’ defense is in peak form

The Toronto Raptors won the NBA Championship in 2019 behind the talents of a two-way forward (Kawhi Leonard), a deep bench, and incredible defense. And as the phrase goes, the more things change the more they stay the same. Toronto is of course led by a different two-way forward in Pascal Siakam, who has stepped up since Kawhi Leonard’s departure, but the deep bench and the defense remain. Nick Nurse is a mastermind when it comes to keeping opponents off-balance, and his willingness to experiment with many strategies on defense is a big reason why.

In the eight games in the bubble, the Philadelphia 76ers have been the only team able to put more than 110 points on the Toronto Raptors’ defense. And that was in a game in which none of the starters played 30 minutes. Siakam is still as capable as anyone of locking down an elite scorer with his incredible mix of strength and agility.

VanVleet and Lowry can stick with anyone on the perimeter and aren’t afraid to get physical, knowing that Serge Ibaka and the returning Marc Gasol are protecting the paint. And backing all of those players up is a mixture of solid guard and wing defenders that allow Nurse to get extremely creative with his playoff assignments.

Next. Chris Boucher Deserves a Spot in the Toronto Raptors bench rotation. dark

All of this is to say if the Toronto Raptors defense is going to continue to play this well—which is shaping up to perhaps be better than last year—as Pascal Siakam and Kyle Lowry round into playoff form, then the thought of an uneventful run to the Eastern Conference Finals isn’t ludicrous.

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