The Toronto Raptors got back on the right track last night, pulling out a 112-96 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers that saw them dominate the fourth quarter after an uneven performance against the New York Knicks. Pascal Siakam and Malachi Flynn led the squad to a win, and di so did so by switching up their offensive plan of attack.
The Raptors have built an entire championship-winning culture on a selfless attitude both on and off the court, yet their offense has been more individualistic than in past seasons. Partially due to the lack of depth, Nick Nurse has trusted in a very select group of players when it comes to providing most of the scoring.
Rather than lean on the four-headed monster of Siakam, Fred VanVleet, Kyle Lowry, and one of either Norman Powell or Gary Trent Jr., Nurse trusted his depth, and the result was one of the best offensive performances of the season.
While Flynn, Siakam, OG Anunoby, and Khem Birch were all in double-figures, Lowry and VanVleet were just outside that with nine and eight points, while Yuta Watanabe added nine off of the bench. The Raptors sharing the ball makes for a much more watchable product than letting the starters take turns coming down the floor.
Handled our business. #WeTheNorth pic.twitter.com/4BRdO85NCo
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) April 27, 2021
The Toronto Raptors looked more balanced against Cleveland.
After giving Trent just 15 minutes against the Knicks and limiting Flynn to just six, Nurse played 11 players, with Watanabe and Flynn each topping 20 minutes. The result was a much more energized, free-flowing offense that attacked Cleveland in ways that VanVleet and company chucking up 3-pointers wouldn’t have.
32 assists on 43 made shots show that Nurse clearly put an emphasis on passing the ball and getting everyone involved after getting smacked around by the Knicks. For all of Cleveland’s faults, their defense can be very solid at times, and the Raptors beat the brakes off of them.
Nurse’s offenses are always going to play a pseudo-Daryl Morey style on offense that prioritizing pace, space, and shooting, but last night showed what this offense can be when everyone starts to take ownership of the scoring responsibility.
Birch got easy looks in the paint, Lowry was finding open cutters all game long, and the shooters had more time to set up. If they want to make the playoffs, or properly evaluate their talent, this is the best philosophy to adopt on offense.
Yes, it was the Cavs, one of the worst teams in the league. Despite that, the Toronto Raptors looked like a much more balanced team, with multiple players ready to shoulder the scoring load. If they want to fend off two teams laden with tons of scoring power in Washington and Chicago, that style of play will need to return.