In the immortal words of Fred VanVleet, this Toronto Raptors team has a pattern it’s been following. Play well, lose focus, get yelled at, and play well again. Well, the Raptors lost a pretty embarrassing game to the Oklahoma City Thunder, won a squeaker against the New York Knicks, and then firmly returned to the “play well again” column in a monster win over the Sacramento Kings.
Are we about to see them lose focus? Or are they about to turn a corner?
Toronto’s defense has been enormous over its last several games. In fact, it has the sixth-best defense over its last 10 games and the third-best over its last five. That is of course with an incredibly thin lineup, missing both of its (comparatively) traditional centers in Precious Achiuwa and Khem Birch, as well as its best wing defender in OG Anunoby. Nick Nurse continues to assert, by the way, that there is no update on the three; he said before the game against the Kings that Chris Boucher will continue to start for the foreseeable future.
It’s worked because the bench has really turned a corner on the defensive end. Yuta Watanabe has the best defensive rating among players in the rotation over the last 10 games. Boucher is right up there as well, proving that he’s filling in capably, and that Toronto remains at its best with someone who can block shots and clean the glass on the floor. The starters have also started clicking, with Fred VanVleet, Pascal Siakam, and Scottie Barnes playing some of the best defense in the league over the last several games. Barnes, especially, has turned the corner from a relative negative on that end to one of the team’s most potent weapons. It’s been fun to see.
And now the Raptors will face the fearsome Brooklyn Nets. For all their offensive talent, they have also had a top-10 defensive rating over the last 10 games. James Harden remains one of the most talented players in the league (even if his shooting numbers are poor), and Kevin Durant is playing like he’s the only one on the court — defenders invisible, grasping at air trying to both him. Yet the Nets will be slightly shorthanded against the Raptors.
Four Nets — LaMarcus Aldridge, DeAndre Bembry, Jevon Carter and James Johnson — have entered health and safety protocols and are listed out tonight vs. Toronto.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 14, 2021
At least Toronto ought not to get bullied around the rim with the Nets missing so much of their frontcourt rotation. Maybe they’ll unshelve Blake Griffin, and he’ll hit his usual four triples against the Raptors, then go back to being a non-shooter against everyone else. But ultimately, Toronto’s defense — that’s finally working! — is about to face one of the toughest tests the league can offer.
Are we about to see them lose focus? Or are they about to turn a corner for real this time?
Game Info
Tip-Off: 7:30pm EST | TV: SN | Radio: SN 590
Toronto’s lineup
As has become usual recently, Khem Birch, Precious Achiuwa, and OG Anunoby are out. David Johnson is out too, as is Dalano Banton (illness: non-COVID).
PG: Fred VanVleet, Malachi Flynn
SG: Gary Trent Jr, Svi Mykhailiuk
SF: Scottie Barnes, Justin Champagnie, Isaac Bonga
PF: Pascal Siakam, Yuta Watanabe
C: Chris Boucher
Brooklyn’s lineup
You ready? Kyrie is out indefinitely. Johnson, Bembry, Carter, Aldridge, and Millsap are all in health and safety protocols. Joe Harris (ankle) is out indefinitely. And Kevin Durant (ankle) is questionable.
PG: James Harden
SG: Patty Mills, Cam Thomas, David Duke Jr.
SF: Bruce Brown, Kessler Edwards
PF: Kevin Durant
C: Blake Griffin, Nic Claxton, Day’Ron Sharpe
The line
Toronto’s plus-five, and the over-under is 215.
