Toronto Raptors NBA Playoff Odds
Toronto Raptors Analysis
On Dec. 1, the young Raptors were just 9-13 on the season and had the 22nd-best record in the NBA. They were an average offensive team and ranked a surprisingly poor 25th in Defensive Rating (111.7), excluding garbage time, per Cleaning The Glass.
Since then, the Raptors offense remained around league average, but the defense has flipped a switch as they rank seventh in Defensive Rating (110.3) as their plethora of long and athletic wings have made offense a nightmare for their opponents.
Fred VanVleet has had a career year and is deserving of a spot on the NBA’s Second Team All-Defense. Pascal Siakam is worthy of an All-NBA team selection. Scottie Barnes has been incredible and is undoubtedly one of the top two candidates for Rookie of the Year. Raptors head coach Nick Nurse has been excellent as well.
The biggest question entering the playoffs for the Raptors is their half-court offense. Their 91.3 Offensive Rating in the half court ranked 26th this season and is the worst of any top-six seed in either conference. They also played the second-fewest (74.6%) rate of plays in the half court in the NBA as they like to force turnovers with their freakish length and play in transition as they more often than not have the better five athletes on the court.
If they can force turnovers and get some 3-point variance in their favor, they will be an extremely tough out.
