The Toronto Raptors managed to put together a tough victory against Jalen Suggs and the Magic on Friday night, as Gary Trent Jr. helped the squad withstand what was a furious comeback and improve to 3-3 on the young season.
The Raptors have experienced some turbulence this season, as Nick Nurse trying to realize his positionless, swarming system. Still, considering that Toronto prevailed in their last two games and hung with a very good Bulls team for as long as they could, they should be applauded for turning things around.
This style of play is not going to work unless Nurse got everyone to buy in, go all-out on defense as much as possible, and force turnovers with increasing regularity. Over the last few games, Toronto is playing like a team that will be a pest for both cellar-dwellers and contenders alike.
The Raptors currently lead the league in deflections, far outpacing second-place Chicago in this area, and loose balls recovered on defense, where they outrank Philadelphia. A late run by Jimmy Butler helped him take the top spot, but the No. 2 and No. 3 spots across the entire league are manned by Trent and Fred VanVleet.
The Toronto Raptors lead the league in deflections with a total of 137 of them. The next-closest team is Charlotte with 103.
— Joshua Howe (@Howevolution) October 30, 2021
I know this has been been brought up plenty of times, but that is one heck of a gap.
The Toronto Raptors are showing heart and hustle.
Last year, the Raptors were arguably the worst rebounding team in the NBA, and their performance on the offensive glass left a lot to be desired. Just one year later, perhaps due to some personnel changes and an increase in intensity, the Raptors are one of the best teams in the league at crashing the boards on offense.
Toronto has the second-highest offensive rebound percentage in the game, with only Memphis checking in above them. Scottie Barnes has been a major contributor to this turnaround, but the likes of Khem Birch and Precious Achiuwa have helped improve Toronto’s rebounding despite the lack of a dominant 7-footer.
Carlisle says the Raptors are extremely active on the offensive glass and are a fast team. Says its a multifolded task to get back, contest shooters, try to keep them off the rim, and rebound
— Oren Weisfeld (@OrenWeisfeld) October 27, 2021
The Raptors aren’t going to win a ton of shootouts until Pascal Siakam returns from his injury. However, they could end up picking up a few more wins than anticipated if they continue to adhere to this style. With only one team topping 110 points, it’s clearly working to some degree.
Toronto’s roster right now might not be built to win a championship, but they are built to give teams all they can handle due to their defensive effort. If Trent keeps up his stellar play and the rebounding stays sharp, the Raptors could coast to a few more upset wins.