With largely the same cast of characters, can Toronto exceed expectations again?
If big-budget blockbusters have taught us anything, it is this: Raptors, brought to life by mad scientists conducting futuristic experiments, are to be feared.
But is this true in the NBA? Just how scary is the team that Masai Ujiri’s front office and Nick Nurse’s coaching staff have been putting together in Toronto?
For opponents trying to run their normal offense, the Raptors’ long arms and quick feet can be pretty terrifying. They pressure ball handlers, leap into passing lanes with hair-on-fire intensity, mixing up coverages to create a sense of confusion along with the chaos. While most teams use defensive schemes designed to limit rotations, Toronto willingly puts itself into scramble mode. It forces turnovers, indecision and uncomfortable shots late in the shot clock.
However, preseason predictions don’t see the Raptors as being especially dangerous. Their Vegas over/under is 45.5 wins as of Monday, the day Ujiri stated they must improve this season. That figure predicts that Toronto will likely fall into the play-in after going 48-34 and placing sixth in the East last season, and that teams like the Brooklyn Nets and Cleveland Cavaliers will be better this time around.
Perhaps doing so undervalues their abilities. Pascal Siakam was chosen All-NBA last year, and Fred VanVleet was an All-Star. Otto Porter Jr., who just won a championship with the Golden State Warriors, has attended the celebration now that everyone has returned. Rookie of the Year Scottie Barnes has also turned 21.
The recipe for making Toronto more menacing is simple: enhance the halfcourt offence without sacrificing the defense-and-transition supremacy that has been its trademark. Finding some trustworthy second-unit lineups would also be beneficial. It will be difficult to escape the play-in if those things don’t take place.
Barnes, a precocious passer and tremendous hugger with unbelievable potential, will be the center of attention. He will be able to give his teammates simple looks more frequently the more his scoring potential is unleashed. He will be given additional playmaking responsibilities with the starting if he can succeed as the focal point while surrounded by reserves.
It’s unrealistic to anticipate that Barnes will fully mature during his second season. But this guy, the most important typology there is, is built like a huge wing, enjoys the challenge of guarding centers, and views himself as a point guard. Barnes creates the impression that there are countless options in a setting where positions are worthless.