Tactics

The Raptors, led by head coach Nick Nurse, employ a strategy that plays to the specialist skills of their individual players, but it will be interesting to see how Toronto performs this season without Los Angeles-bound Kawhi Leonard. With Pascal Siakam and FIBA World Cup winner Marc Gasol on the floor, the Raptors have considerable length and power with which they can dominate battles in the key. In Fred VanVleet and their leader Kyle Lowry, the Raptors possess a backcourt that is dynamic and able to move the ball at speed, as well as act as a perimeter threat. VanVleet showed off his talent in the 2019 NBA Finals, whilst Lowry is known to have a three-point shot in him. This allows the Raptors offense to be varied, able to pick the defense apart in different ways. On defense, the Raptors’ immense length again proves to be their key strength - but it was their scheme that took them to the championship last season (sigh and Kawhi Leonard). The Raptors employed box-and-one defense, a hybrid between both man and zone defense. This setup is highly effective against teams with a central scoring threat, which is why the Raptors utilised it against the Warriors - who were without the elite injured pair of Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson.

Predicted 2019-20 Record: 41-41

The Raptors won it all last year, but the offseason hit hard. Not only did they lose Kawhi Leonard to the LA Clippers, but Danny Green - a more-than-serviceable player - went to the LA Lakers. Damn those attractive markets. Raptors fans ultimately bare no ill-will towards Kawhi - he did win them a ring after all - but they will certainly miss his presence after this season is through. Lowry and Siakam are likely struggle to carry a team with lofty ambitions post-Leonard, but this team will still put up a good fight with anyone in the NBA.