After four games, the Toronto Raptors have the best defensive rating in the NBA at 97.9. The next best team is the Minnesota Timberwolves with a defensive rating of 102.5.
Except for their 117-94 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Raptors haven’t had a very tough schedule yet. They handily beat the rebuilding Chicago Bulls and the shorthanded Orlando Magic and escaped the new-look Washington Wizards in a ten-point win. They held the Magic and Bulls below 100 points and gave up just 102 to the Wizards, as they kept Anthony Davis in check for the first time in years.
The relatively easy schedule certainly helped the Raptors secure that top defensive rating. But, at the same time, they did it with Kawhi Leonard playing just 52 minutes. He played limited minutes in the first two games, as he was still ramping up his conditioning, and missed the other two with a knee injury that could potentially keep him sidelined for a few weeks.
Leonard may not be the defender he was ten years ago when he won back-to-back DPOY awards anymore, but he still gives the Raptors another big, physical, switchable, and disruptive defender. Their defense will be even scarier when he is back. Plus, the game against the Timberwolves was not a great defensive showing. Just imagine how much better their defensive rating would be if they had played a good defensive game in Minnesota.
All in all, it seems that the Raptors are just scratching the surface of what their defense could become.
The Raptors’ defense will be challenged over the next ten games
The Raptors kick off the Emirates NBA Cup with a rematch against the Magic tonight. After that, they will face Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers. They currently have the second-best offensive rating in the league and scored at least 125 points in four of their first five games.
The Raptors also have games against the Memphis Grizzlies and Boston Celtics coming up soon. They currently rank fifth and fourth in offensive rating, respectively. The Denver Nuggets are off to a slow start, but you can never underestimate Nikola Jokic.
Moreover, the Raptors will have to face the Philadelphia 76ers and the New York Knicks (twice) after going up against the Grizzlies and Celtics. That four-game stretch against some of the top contenders in the Eastern Conference will truly test their defense—and their offense, considering that Leonard might not be back by then.
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