The Toronto Raptors have had a tumultuous season unlike any other organization in the NBA due to the temporary relocation of the franchise. Have they finally turned the tide towards sustaining contention for a title?
Photo: Abbie Parr/Getty Images, January 11, 2021
Only a few weeks ago were the Raptors sitting at the bottom of an already weak Eastern Conference with a ghastly 2-8 record. There were calls for a rebuild and possibly even tanking for a top pick. However, the Raptors recent play has hushed those calls as the team has slowly risen higher in the standings and now they are in play for a top-5 seed in the East.
Coming off an unexpectedly great 2019-2020 NBA season, one where the Toronto Raptors were just 5 points away from an Eastern Conference Finals appearance, the Raptors were expected to start the 2020-2021 NBA season right from where they left off the previous year. The losses of Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka were tough to say the least. However, the team adapted with a combination of Aron Baynes and Alex Len (who was later waived), as well as the additions of Yuta Watanabe and DeAndre Bembry for added depth.
In the first few games of the season, the absence of Marc Gasol was clear on the defensive end, especially in a conference with dominating bigs like Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Toronto Raptors rank 16th in defensive efficiency this year at 114.4 points allowed per 100 possessions, an increase of 6.7 since last season. Aron Baynes, who was tasked with replacing at least some of Marc Gasol's production, has woefully underperformed while also lacking the passing and scoring skills to be a factor on the offensive end. Baynes currently has a -1.3 Defensive Box Plus-Minus and a -4.4 Offensive Box Plus-Minus. This is in comparison to Gasol's 2.8 and -1.2 respective Plus-Minuses the previous year. Baynes’ offense has been an even greater concern now that the Raptors also lack the spacing Serge Ibaka provided last year.
The Raptors turnaround can be largely credited to the step-up in offensive production with the implementation of small-ball lineups. The organization is 11th in offensive rating league-wide, up 3 places from last year. This can be attributed to their improved three-point efficiency and exceptional transition play. They are shooting at 38.4% as a team from behind the line, above league average. Toronto is also third in fastbreak points per game, spearheaded by the play of franchise cornerstone Pascal Siakam. Although the team has seen a dip in defensive efficiency, their offensive system is one that many organizations across the league are trying to emulate. This was likely the reason why Chris Finch, a former Raptors assistant coach, was hired as head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves in the middle of the season. Small-ball has allowed the Raptors to take their offense to another level by giving more minutes to their best 3-point and transition scorers, especially Norman Powell. Powell himself is shooting an outstanding 43% from 3-point range and boasts career-highs in points per game, field goals attempted and free-throw percentage.
With the second half of the NBA schedule being released, the Toronto Raptors still face much adversity; even their “home” stretches are unlike any other team in the Association. Although it is obvious that changes within the front-office and roster have caused the team to experience a slight dip in fortune, it is without a doubt that they still have the potential to make a deep playoff push.
Sources:
Marc Gasol Plus Minus - https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/TOR/2020.html
Aron Baynes Plus Minus -
Offensive Rating -
Team Statistics and Player Statistics -
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