Defense is carrying the Raptors

All the talk surrounding the Toronto Raptors in the postseason has centered around the struggles of its backcourt.

It’s unavoidable. Before his heroic 33-point outing in Game 3, Kyle Lowry was a sullen shadow of himself shooting jumpers in an empty gym. Flanking him was DeMar DeRozan, who wasn’t battling a shooting slump so much as his entire career has been a bitter struggle against basketball logic.

The result has been absolute torture for viewers. Every game between the Raptors and Heat has been an ugly slog to sift through, a collection of excruciating possessions consisting of no motion and no payoff. Clanked midrange jumpers and awkward turnovers have characterized the indigestible series, and Lowry and DeRozan have been the principles in this rotten play.

Yet the Raptors sit two games back of the conference finals. How could that be? We’ve seen Lowry and DeRozan struggle in the past. We know what that looks like. They got swept last year when their backcourt was badly outplayed.

Why is this year any different?

The answer is defense. The Raptors are absolutely putting the clamps to Miami.

Some quick stats:

Miami has posted an offensive rating of 97.1 in three games. That’s somewhere between the Lakers (98.6) and the Sixers (96.6)

The Heat’s quality of looks on offense is the toughest of all playoff teams (per ESPN’s Tom Haberstroh)

Miami’s (and Toronto’s) pace ranks as the lowest among second round teams

Miami has only attempted eight wide open shots per game (no defender within six feet)

Miami has attempted the fewest free throws per game of any team in the second round

Miami has committed the most turnovers per game of any team in the second round

Credit Jonas Valanciunas for some truly inspired play around the rim. He’s been dominant. Kudos to Lowry to breaking out in Game 3. That was refreshing. But the biggest reason why the Raptors hold a 2–1 series lead is because their defense has delivered.

It’s been a team effort. DeMarre Carroll has held Joe Johnson to 36.5 percent shooting from the field. Cory Joseph has been a constant thorn in the sides of Dwyane Wade and Goran Dragic. Lowry has been excellent as usual. DeRozan has been capable against Luol Deng.

And most importantly, the interior has been solid. Valanciunas has rendered Bismack Biyombo superfluous with how well he’s held up on defense (once a weakness for Valanciunas), and Patrick Patterson has been the interchangeable piece that’s successfully bridged the gap by guarding 1–5.

A dire need to improve the defense was the takeaway from the past two playoff failures. The Raptors had enough firepower but they couldn’t stop the opponent. When games slowed to a crawl and whistles were swallowed, the Raptors have struggled. They needed players who could thrive in ugly games.

That’s why Masai Ujiri brought in the likes of Joseph, Biyombo, and Carroll. Because while they aren’t necessarily difference makers on offense, they can always lean on their reputations as stoppers. Even Norman Powell has been sturdy when called upon. Casey needed gritty defenders and Ujiri spent the entire offseason stockpiling on stops.

Credit the Casey’s coaching staff. The shift to a conservative defense has made life much easier for Valanciunas. Offseason import Andy Greer brought over the famed Tom Thibodeau scheme as an assistant and the Raptors turned paint defense from a problem into a strength. The developmental staff has also overseen improvements from Ross, Valanciunas, and Patterson. That’s all paying off.

The end result is this: The Heat’s sixth-ranked offense (post-Chris Bosh injury) has looked absolutely clueless.

Lots of these from Wade isn’t a problem

That’s the subtext to Dwyane Wade’s throwback 38-point performance in Game 3 - he had to do it on his own because no one else had anything. Goran Dragic and Joe Johnson were the only other players who scored in double-digits, and they had 22 points on 9–25 shooting. Deng has been a non-factor. The Heat bench has given them nothing. And if Whiteside is out, the Heat would have absolutely zero interior scoring.

Unlike seasons past, the defense has been there to prop up the Raptors. It’s been the offense that’s let them down. So if Valanciunas shakes off the bum ankle, and if Lowry’s return to form is a sign of things to come, then the Raptors could reach new heights.

Thanks to their defense, a trip to the conference finals is becoming a legitimate possibility.

Whiteside’s injury is a big problem for Miami

10 things I saw from Game 3: