4 reasons the Raptors are a different defensive team in 2015-16
Last year's Toronto Raptors scorched opponents, winning a pile of games thanks to an offense that could hardly be stopped. But when the Raptors faced crunch time in the postseason, their inability to get stops was their undoing. In part because of their playoff failing, then, Dwane Casey and his Toronto team have doubled down on defense this season.
It's paying dividends so far, as the Raptors entered Monday's action tied for 10th in the NBA in defensive efficiency, according to NBA.com. If you're looking for specifics as to how the Raptors have turned around a defense that was in the bottom third of the league last year, there are four major factors, according to Yahoo! Sports, which break down into two categories -- three new players, and one big decision to try something new strategically:
Starting Wednesday night, the Raptors will face some stout defensive tests against the likes of the Atlanta Hawks, Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs. On the other hand, Toronto will also have slightly easier games against the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers interspersed among the other matchups. How the Raptors handle this stretch could indicate whether this team has a deep playoff run in its future.
After finishing 23rd in that category last season, the stark improvement can be attributed largely to two factors: the addition of premium defenders in Carroll, Joseph, and Biyombo and the decision to switch to a less aggressive pick-and-roll defence that encourages opponents to shot long two-pointers. Having a top-10 offence and defence in terms of efficiency is seen as the benchmark for being a complete team. The Raptors are one of three teams to be in the top 10 in both categories. The other two? Golden State and San Antonio. That’s some mighty fine company to keep.
