The Toronto Raptors have now lost two straight games without Kawhi Leonard, and their loss to Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers illustrated just how essential the future Hall of Famer is to the team's dominant defensive identity. Without him, both the Lakers and Orlando Magic have shot the lights out.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick further rubbed salt in the wound, claiming that it was hard to play against the Raptors because they were "fouling every possession." Reddick would have sounded like sour grapes had the Raptors win, but the fact his team won shows that he was dead-on accurate in figuring out how to take advantage of this defense.
Losing Leonard has shown the Raptors' defense to be a bit of a paper tiger without him to cover up some of the bubbles in the wallpaper. A repeat of this performance against another contender can't happen.
JJ Redick calls out foul-heavy Toronto Raptors defense
The Raptors have two of the best defenders in the league at their respective positions in Scottie Barnes and Collin Murray-Boyles, but two players who rarely share the floor together can't combine to fix an entire defensive structure. With a lack of rim protection, Toronto may be a bit more physical on the perimeter, and teams are taking advantage.
Jakob Poeltl has regressed to the point where he is barely even a functional player on either side of the ball. Trayce Jackson-Davis is a solid backup big man who tries hard and fills a role, but he may be the team's best rim protector, and that's a concern. Murray-Boyles and Barnes can do it in smaller lineups, but their talents are better utilized elsewhere.
RJ Barrett's defense has improved, but the team still needs to work around it against better opponents. Immanuel Quickley looks like a traffic cone when playing the better guards in the league, and Ja'Kobe Walter's perimeter feistiness isn't enough to boost the Leonard-less backcourt. As a result, Doncic and Franz Wagner had their way with the Raptors.
The Toronto Raptors must survive on defense without Kawhi Leonard
Until the Leonard-sized cavalry comes, it may be hard to envision a world where the Raptors can make a wholesale change. The team is boxed in from making a big trade unless they cut their proverbial arm off with a Barrett or Quickley move. Even then, a move featuring one of those players would likely be for an offensive upgrade.
Redick, as harsh as he sounded, may have been telling a truth about the Raptors that Darko Rajakovic needs to take to heart. Leonard isn't coming back for a while, and playing this style is not going to work against the better teams in the league.
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