Toronto Raptors' deficient defence will be addressed only when players smarten up
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The Raptors have brought the fun factor back into their brand of basketball, an entertaining style featuring ball movement that has led to competitive — and at times combative — games, even when the outcome doesn’t go their way.
Along comes Wednesday’s late-night tip in Sacramento and the fissures have become problematic.
While it should be as clear as day to pinpoint the areas of deficiency with this rebuilding, the remedy isn’t as obvious.
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Toronto Raptors' deficient defence will be addressed only when players smarten up Back to video
Too foul-prone, too susceptible on defence, too sloppy and, to be bluntly candid, too stupid when defending back-door cuts or being asked to rotate, for the first time this season the Raptors were not watching when the fourth quarter began against the host Kings.
In beating the Raptors 122-107 at the Golden 1 Center, the Kings exposed Toronto’s No. 1 problem: Until some semblance of a defensive identity is entrenched, what played out in the fourth quarter — when the Raptors were outclassed 33-14 — will be common.
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The Raptors remain winless on the road as they take their act into Los Angeles for a pair of weekend games against the Clippers and Lakers before heading to Milwaukee.
A horrid first quarter in Minnesota doomed the Raptors on a night they would suffer a double-digit defeat.
They were valiant in Denver where RJ Barrett’s potential buzzer-beater rimmed in and out.
For most of the game in Sacramento, the Raptors were able to dictate tempo, but then the roof caved in the fateful and frightful fourth.
A Gradey Dick pull-up one minute into the period gave the visitors a 95-89 advantage. Two minutes later, the Raptors were suddenly trailing 96-95. Poor decision-making with the basketball led to turnovers and easy run-outs, while poor defence would allow the Kings to take control of the game.
When DeMar DeRozan scored on a driving layup with 2:33 remaining, the Kings were leading by 15 points. Cue the bench to be emptied, enter the conversation on how the Raptors can possibly become a more efficient defensive team.
At the heart of making stops is the premise of team defence — the focal point for head coach Darko Rajakovic back on media day — and yet it remains an issue.
It was also a major source of concern last season when the Raptors were truly and historically horrific.
Time is required, a healthy roster would help and a sound scheme go a long way in helping a team become less defensive deficient.
The Raptors have extended their defence knowing that once an opponent is operating in the half court breakdowns are inevitable. Once their coverage gets exposed, easy baskets are generated leading to Rajakovic calling a timeout.
The effort seems to be there, but obviously something is amiss.
The season began with the Raptors getting run off their home floor by the Cleveland Cavaliers, who put up 136 points.
Toronto held the visiting Philadelphia 76ers to 107 points on their second game, but there was no Joel Embiid and no Paul George available for the visitors.
Charlotte scored 138 points in a home, while the Lakers torched the Raptors for 43 first-quarter points in an away win.
Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic recorded a triple-double against the Raptors, while Domantas Sabonis, on Wednesday night, produced a rarely seen stat line that featured no misses from the field and charity stripe when he dished off a game-high 13 assists.
The Raptors are young and inexperienced, the growing pains acceptable when losses occur.
No one is about to lose sight of the big picture, but no one should be pleased at the way the Raptors are defending — and have been defending for quite some time — no matter the composition of the roster.
The Raptors are nowhere near the development of the Kings, who are capable of simply outscoring an opponent once the post-season arrives when making key stops in critical moments are paramount when a game is on the line.
Jakob Poeltl is the Raptors’ best defender in the post and the team’s lone rim protector. But put him in pick-and-roll sequences on the perimeter and he’s vulnerable.
Davion Mitchell was solid on defence in his return to Sacramento. but the drop-off was alarming.
During the grind of an 82-game season, picking up your man in the full court is not sustainable, better used in spurts.
Scottie Barnes is more than capable of being a defensive presence because his skill set allows him to defend multiple positions.
Ochai Agbaji has shown to be capable and competent.
And when he’s moving his feet, Barrett can keep in front of his man.
Whether it’s a function of youth, being undersized in certain positions, a lack of depth and chemistry or simply not having the mental wherewithal to read and react, defence remains the Raptors’ biggest challenge that must somehow improve.
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