Navigating their last two contests without the team's only true center, veteran Jakob Poeltl, who is currently dealing with a back issue, the Raptors have had to experiment with their starting lineup. They've taken a route that pays homage to recent years, reflecting the style of the current NBA, and also offering a glimpse into the future — all at the same time. Toronto is certainly not the first to do it, but the starting five recently rolled out by the Raptors — Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, Brandon Ingram, Scottie Barnes, and rookie Collin Murray-Boyles — has been proving effective in the small sample size so far and has resulted in two straight wins.
The trio of Ingram, Barnes, and Barrett has been especially strong on offense (the Raptors currently rank 10th in offense), while Barnes and CMB have shown strong defensive chemistry together on the court. Without a prototypical center, and with four players in the lineup standing taller than 6-foot-6 but no one exceeding 6-foot-8: is this emergency Raptors formula the future of two-way NBA success or simply an experiment destined for disaster?
Raptors' latest lineup experiment is intriguing
I don't know if I would go so far as to take the latter just yet because it's clearly worked for them so far. But then again, I think about the small ball Rockets squad from a few years ago. If you still recall, the Rockets traded their long-time big man Clint Capela in favor of adding defensive ace Robert Covington, a 6-foot-7 wing mind you, and was slotted in to play the center role alongside PJ Tucker, who was a 6-foot-5 wing himself.
While Houston had a bold strategy in place, the experiment quickly caught up to them as they couldn't topple Anthony Davis and the Lakers in the 2019-20 Western Conference Semifinals. I think Toronto has a similar idea in mind for now, without Jakob Poeltl. It’s definitely opening up more space for their scorers, and offensively, the Raptors have looked faster, setting the pace more effectively against their opponents. I think it’s definitely helped Toronto by facing a hurt Cavs squad and a Grizzlies unit that has been dealing with adversity, including Ja Morant’s suspension and a lack of true center depth also.
However, when Jakob Poeltl does return, I believe Toronto will pivot back with their traditional lineup. While it might seem like Poeltl has lost a step or is gradually declining — which is a troubling thought given the hefty extension he received over the summer — he remains a significant presence for the team. We’ve seen how the Raps struggled when they are outmatched in size and rebounding, so having Poeltl back will be important for addressing those issues, even if he's not bull-strong or the most athletic center on the market.
Regardless, it is a bright spot for the Raptors' front office to see that this lineup can produce effectively and generate victories as a result. I had already noted that after young big Ulrich Chomche was cut, the Raptors would likely shift to third-string center minutes for CMB. That has indeed been the case so far, especially as Toronto is choosing to use the rookie at the backup five spot before offseason acquisition Sandro Mamukelashvili.
The season has been pretty tumultuous, even in just the first week and a bit for the Raptors. It might not look like this is the long-term core ready to roll out just yet, but who knows? We could see more of this lineup if the organization sees fit, especially if Poeltl struggles to get his health back on track.