Toronto Raptors: Three keys to beating the Boston Celtics in semi-finals

Is team size advantage for the Raptors vs the Celtics?

In this series between the Toronto Raptors and the Boston Celtics, team size might be immaterial or it could be a big factor. First, both teams are small and big in opposing spots and it might just give the Toronto Raptors an advantage. Both Fred Vanvleet and Kyle Lowry are listed at six feet tall and are the starting guards for the Toronto Raptors. Boston employs a backcourt of Kemba Walker and Marcus Smart at six feet and six foot three inches respectively.

Due to an ankle sprain suffered Sunday against the Brooklyn Nets, Kyle Lowry may miss some time in this series.  This would mean six foot four inch Norman Powell would start in Lowry’s place swinging the guard size in favor of the Raptors. However, the Raptors’ true size advantage comes on the interior where a six-foot nine-inch Pascal Siakam will be looking to mix-up his well-rounded game with an array of post moves and drives against Jayson Tatum, at six foot eight inches, or Jaylen Brown, at six foot six inches.

There is also the concern that at the center, where Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka, a pair of seven-footers can dominate an undersized Daniel Theis and Enes Kanter in the post and on the backboards. The Raptors frontcourt, including Pascal Siakam, averaged a total of 21.8 rebounds per game while Boston’s frontcourt of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Daniel Theis average about 20 rebounds a game.

Overall, Boston was the better rebounding team finishing eighth, while Toronto was 11th overall. However, in a seven-game series, the Raptors’ big men are bigger and more active around the basket. OG Anunoby, Serge Ibaka, Marc Gasol, and Pascal Sakam average 3.3 blocks per game combined. The length and reach of the Raptors’ players had them finish this regular season with 8.8 steals per game for second in the NBA.  The Raptors spend about 34 percent of their time shooting from 10-16 feet away from the basket so there will be plenty of activity in the paint.

The Raptors have also been able to use their length and size to force opponents into committing 16.8 turnovers per game. Boston takes good care of the basketball and only committed 13.8 turnovers per game this season.  In four games against Toronto this season, Boston committed 56 turnovers or an average of 14 per game. The Raptors will need to work hard defensively against the Celtics.

The Raptors might be short at the guard spots but they are a bigger and longer team than Boston.  As good as Boston is on defense, the Raptors were the second-best defense in the NBA because they are not only aggressive but disrupt passes and challenge shooter’s lines of sight to the basket.