The Toronto Raptors are in trouble, and the season is slipping away quickly.
Raptors are built to defend, but they do very little of that these days. Unfortunately, the Raptors are more focused on their injuries and making excuses than playing their style of basketball.
“It's not really a one-guy thing, really, at this point,” mentioned Fred VanVleet after their tough loss to the Warriors last night. “Obviously having all of our best players helps, just having all the top guys. I don't think we're really built to have a ton of injuries. So we need our top guys to be available and to play their best. Obviously we'll be happy to have him back, but we've got work to do with or without him. He can shore up some of those areas, but we've got work to do.
This team was built with a defensive mindset at the forefront, but their recent form hasn’t been very impressive, as they haven’t been able to force tough shots or protect the rim effectively. Furthermore, there have been breakdowns in communication that have led to open shots and drives that opponents are taking advantage of. Raptors need to re-establish solid communication and increase defensive effort to bounce back.
Ultimately, the Raptors need to focus on getting healthy again, we know that. Injuries are part of the game; all teams are going through that. If they want to make it to the playoffs this season, they need to refocus on playing within their system rather than getting bogged down by injuries. They must make adjustments such as pressing up less close and communicating better to force more challenging shots and limit opponents' scoring opportunities.
Why the once powerful Raptors have become powerless, and what needs to be done to rectify it?
Understanding why once-powerful defensive Raptors have suddenly become powerless requires something plentiful teams lack these days; insight. It requires looking past the recency bias, taking a step back, and viewing the overall landscape.
Analyzing and breaking down the team's metrics is only one puzzle aspect. What matters more is understanding why the team is going through what's going through right now on either end of the court.
Raptor's front office must make smart decisions regarding player acquisitions and trade strategies with the trade deadline approaching. Furthermore, as part of this strategy, teams must assemble a roster with defensive players who can successfully match up against other NBA offences. We thought we had this in our all 6'8"-6'9" lineup. But if we don't, Masai and Bobby need to address this immediately.
The Toronto Raptors need to embrace their identity as a defensive powerhouse to break their downward spiral. The Raptors won the NBA Championship in 2019 due to their commitment to defence and ability to shut down opponents’ offence. Toronto used a defensive strategy focused on contested shots, disruptive switching, dynamic pressure on the ball handlers, and enough length all around. Once again, we must remain committed defensively while playing cohesively and embracing our identity as a team.
Nick Nurse's coaching philosophy can refresh and re-energize the Raptors franchise.
Nick Nurse is known for his unique and innovative coaching philosophy, enabling him to lead the Toronto Raptors to a championship victory in 2019. By taking the team on a journey of creative risk-taking, tactical advances and motivational tactics, Nurse has created an environment that fosters collaboration in an atmosphere of intense focus. His decision-making is based more on instinct than convention. This philosophy made the Raptors evolve into one of the most defensively dominant teams in the NBA not long ago. They need more of that right now.
This is the time for Nick Nurse to revamp and re-energize the Raptors franchise on and off the court. He needs to build a stronger bond between the Raptors players, staff, and fans. To do this, he must focus on communication and trust. Doing so will help build a culture of accountability in which everyone is held responsible for their performance. This includes players, coaches, and front-office personnel alike. His approach should consider everything from team performance and culture to morale and relationships between players and coaches.
Nurse worked hard to implement a culture of positivity within the locker room that encourages open dialogue among teammates and himself, resulting in greater cohesion within the group. We need more of that.
This mindset has helped with our favourable player development program: an ability to coach every player individually allows individuals to gain better insight into their abilities while striving towards improvement. The Raptors have to add a few more pieces to compete with the best teams in the league.
Amidst all this, Coach Nurse must instill a sense of purpose in the team while also creating an environment of hard work and commitment. The Raptors need to understand that no matter how difficult a situation; it is only temporary. With the right attitude and mindset, we can return to being the team that won us a championship.
Ultimately, head coach Nick Nurse should use all the tools at his disposal to successfully re-inspire his team while remaining disciplined. Better days are ahead, and our beloved Toronto Raptors can return to their championship form.
There needs to be more focus on defensive rotations towards keeping key areas under control, like limiting perimeter entries into the team's paint area while collecting rebound opportunities whenever possible.
