The Toronto Raptors fell short in their first postseason appearance in four years, but the season still gave fans plenty to feel good about. The biggest reason for optimism should be the young core Toronto is developing.
Scottie Barnes, Collin Murray-Boyles, and Ja’Kobe Walter are all under 25 years old. Despite that, they may have been three of Toronto’s four most important players in the postseason. Together, those three give Toronto the foundation of a defensive culture it can build around for years.
Barnes, Murray-Boyles, and Walter embody Toronto’s defense-first mentality
Toronto was never going to make noise in the postseason by getting into shootouts. In the three games Toronto won, Cleveland averaged 101 points. For reference, teams scored an average of 115.6 points per game in the regular season across the league. The Raptors’ young core was the biggest reason for that defensive success.
There is not enough praise for Barnes’ impact on the defensive end. He is capable of guarding every position, which he showcased in the postseason by spending time on Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen. He was phenomenal in every matchup.
Murray-Boyles looks like he may have a similar defensive ceiling to Barnes. He is already one of the most athletic players in the league and also spent time guarding all of Cleveland’s top four offensive options.
Walter was a true standout. He does not make the same defensive highlight-reel plays that Barnes and Murray-Boyles do, but his ability to spend time on Harden and Mitchell gave Barnes much-needed relief.
Toronto can build around these three
When Murray-Boyles was initially drafted, there were fair questions about his fit next to Barnes. Those questions were answered this season.
Neither player is likely to become a reliable outside shooter, but their athleticism helps them overcome that deficiency. Both players are elite in transition and can physically overpower defenders to get inside the paint against set defenses.
That is where Ja’Kobe Walter becomes so important. He is the perfect complement to Barnes and Murray-Boyles because he has the potential to become a truly elite three-point shooter. If Walter reaches that level, it will make Barnes and Murray-Boyles even more dangerous when they attack the paint.
The Raptors still need to be careful with how they build the rest of the roster. Toronto should surround these players with a reliable point guard who can knock down outside shots and run an efficient offense, as well as an athletic center who can contribute in transition and provide another tough defender in the paint.
If the Raptors are capable of surrounding their current young core with the right pieces, there is no telling how high this team’s ceiling can get.
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