The difference between the Raptors' defense in those 20 games vs. the other 62 was in their opponents' effective field goal percentage and their opponents' turnover rate, which happen to be, of the "four factors" of defense, the most important ones.

The Raptors basically forced the same shots against the top 10 offenses (64 percent of shots came from the restricted area or 3-point range) as they did against the bottom 20 (62 percent). And though the top 10 offenses shot better in the paint, Toronto still ranked seventh on those shots against that group. It was on shots from the outside where there was a more dramatic difference.

The top 15 scorers against the Raptors (those that scored at least 25 points per game) were all perimeter players, most of them were the primary ball-handler for their team, and rookie OG Anunoby was the primary defender on most of those primary guys.

But against the top-10 offenses, the Raptors' defense was at its best (109 points allowed per 100 possessions) with Anunoby on the floor, and it was the best bench in basketball that really struggled to hold its own defensively. The players with the biggest differential between how many points the Raptors allowed against the top-10 or not-top-10 offenses were C.J. Miles, Fred VanVleet and Delon Wright.

In the conference semifinals, the defense was pretty dreadful no matter who was on the floor. After allowing the Washington Wizards (the No. 14-ranked offense in the regular season) to score 106.7 points per 100 possessions in the first round, the Raptors allowed the Cleveland Cavaliers (No. 5 offense in the regular season) to score 121.5 in the conference semis. That was the biggest DefRtg increase from round to round for any team in the 2018 postseason.

Kawhi Leonard could make or break the Raptors' season in 2018-19.

Furthermore, the 121.5 was 18.5 more than Cleveland scored in the first round and the fourth best mark for any team in a playoff series over the last 20 years. And again, it was on the perimeter where the Raptors' defense really struggled. Cleveland shot 41 percent from 3-point range (compared to 32 percent in their other three series) and the 8.2 turnovers per 100 possessions that the Cavs committed were the fewest for any team in a playoff series over the last 20 years.

Good news! Not only has LeBron James taken his talents to the Western Conference, but the Raptors also acquired Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green from the team that has ranked in the top five defensively for each of the last six seasons.

It's possible that, with a year of NBA experience under his belt, Anunoby will be one of the league's best wing defenders this season. If so, if Leonard is healthy, and if Green doesn't see much drop-off at the age of 31, the Raptors will have three of league's best wing defenders. Not only will they be able to put together some terrific defensive lineups, but they'll also (and maybe more importantly) be able to keep at least one stopper on the floor at all times.

Playing in an Eastern Conference that lost its best offensive player, the Raptors will certainly be a top-10 defensive team once again. But where progress can be made is in their ability to defend the best.

Note: The above table is based on true possession counts. Other efficiency stats here are based on possession estimates (typically higher than true possession counts).