OKC Thunder: 3 keys to defeat the Toronto Raptors

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Take care of the ball – watch the transition:

The Raptors score the second-most points off opponent turnovers with 19.1 per game. Reflecting on the aforementioned schedule segment when the Raptors had found their grooved and prior to COVID ravaging the team the Raptors ranked first in this category (21.0  points per game).

Prior to the Raptors being struck down by the virus, they possessed the third-best rate for scoring in the fast break with 15.4 points per game.

The Thunder will need to be dialed into both situations as those turnovers Toronto forces also feed their fast break scoring.

The paint is a priority:

Although the Raptors have struggled to deliver their typical defensive intensity. One area they’ve retained is the ability to stop teams from scoring in the paint. They rank second in the association allowing 42.2 points per game.

The loss of Gasol and Ibaka affected the Raptors rebounding who ranks dead last for defensive and total rebounds. Part of the issue is Nick Nurse switched to utilizing his small-ball lineup over using a typical center.

Raptors defense is deceptively good:

Ironically, the Raptors still excel at protecting the paint because that unit is strong defensively with each individual an above-average defender.  Notably, while the loss of Powell hurts particularly on offense, Gary Trent Jr. is an improvement defensively.

A scan of some of the key defensive categories offers hints as to why the Raptors’ current 24th ranked defense isn’t indicative of who this team really is when healthy.

For example:

• Kyle Lowry ranks second in charges taken.
• Fred VanVleet ranks second in deflections and fourth in steals per game.
• Pascal Siakam ranks second (tied with nine others) for offensive loose balls recovered.
• VanVleet and OG Anunoby rank third for offensive loose balls recovered – – tied with 20 others including Isaiah Roby.
• Lowry tied in fourth for offensive loose balls recovered.
• VanVleet ranks second (tied with eight others) for defensive loose balls recovered.
• Lowry ranks tied in fourth for defensive loose balls recovered (tied with 37 others including Lu Dort).
• VanVleet ranks second for total loose balls recovered (tied with six others)
• Siakam ranks third for total loose balls recovered (tied with six others)
• Lowry and Anunoby ran fifth for total loose balls recovered (tied with 1 8 others)
• Chris Boucher ties (Jarrett Allen) in fifth for shots contested.
• Siakam and Anunoby can guard all five positions and could make an All-Defensive team (and probably should have last season).

*notes: 10 games minim

um to filter out outliers, all stats via nba.com/stats