rpbooks Chapter 674 Raptors' Defense
Chapter 674 Raptors' Defense
Chapter 674 Raptors' Defense
Judging from the paper strength of both sides, the Thunder has the upper hand.Especially on the offensive end, the Thunder's backcourt, which is compatible with explosive power and stability, put tremendous pressure on the Raptors.
However, the Raptors' defense is very good.
Although they usually only rotate games with 8 people, there are several excellent defensive athletes among these 8 people.Both Leonard and Gasol have entered the best defensive team and even won the best defensive player award in the regular season. Their defensive strength and ability inside and outside are at the top of the league.Danny Green is the ace 3D player produced by the Spurs. He has an obvious effect on restricting the opponent's backcourt players.Lowry is currently the player who has caused the most offensive fouls in the playoffs. He is physically strong and has rapid contraction and coping capabilities.Both Ibaka and Siakam are tall and fast players, especially Siakam, who is tough, energetic and focused when defending, and can maximize his speed and wingspan advantages. Can also defend the outside line, and his footsteps can keep up with those smaller players.
The player's defensive ability is outstanding, and Nurse's defensive strategy is also good.When the two are integrated, the power of the defensive end has been greatly improved.In this season, the Raptors have always been the top defensive team in the league.In the regular season, the Raptors are second only to the Thunder in points per game, and are on par with the Celtics, Jazz, and Pacers.
In the playoffs, their defense went one step further.
In the Eastern Conference semifinals, facing the long-standing 76ers, Nurse formed a two-tower lineup.Although Ibaka was not directly taken into the starting lineup, he and Gasol Jr. were both on the court for a long time.This is a bold risk, after all, in today's league, small lineups and fast-paced tactics are the mainstream.When Siakam played with injuries and his strength was greatly reduced, Nurse's timely change was very effective, and it well restricted the 76ers' five deadly lineups.Ibaka and Gasol are both excellent defensively, they almost blocked the entire paint area.At the same time, Gasol's playing time and Joel Embiid's playing time overlapped extremely. Under his defense, Embiid, known as the league's number one center, even scored 11 points in the game.
By the Eastern Conference finals, the role of defense in the game became bigger.At first, the Bucks played smoothly at home.The group of shooters on their outside line is like a tiger descending the mountain, and the Raptors' striker can't stop it at all.There is nothing he can do about Antetokounmpo on the inside. Gasol is slow and Ibaka is too old. His mobility and flexibility are far inferior to Antetokounmpo, so he can only let him slash inside.
But after returning to Toronto, Nurse decisively adjusted his defensive strategy.
The Raptors players mainly used physical confrontation to consume Antetokounmpo in the first three quarters, double-teamed him, consumed him, let him pass the ball to his teammates, and tried not to let him interfere in the low post and inside.In the fourth quarter, the Raptors began to change their strategy. Contrary to the first three quarters, when Antetokounmpo was holding the ball outside the three-point line, put him two meters away and watch him hold the ball near the free throw line.
At this time, Antetokounmpo hesitated to play instead.He tried two methods to deal with the situation at hand.One is the breakthrough.But because the opponent's defensive distance is well grasped, he can't get rid of the opponent, and he can't rely on his body. After rushing up, he will definitely be double-teamed by the Raptors on both sides. It is quite difficult to break through to the inside.The other is to pass the ball to teammates.But it's also hard!If the ball is given directly from beyond the three-point line, no one in the Bucks can handle the ball at this critical moment.Middleton is still too young. If you want him to play singles at a critical moment, it is better to let Antetokounmpo forcefully hit the basket.If the ball is scored in a breakthrough, Antetokounmpo's own passing awareness and ability are very limited, and the passing intention is too obvious, and it is easy to be predicted and intercepted.If there is such a steal and counterattack at a critical moment, it will be very damaging to morale.
In the next finals, the defense of both sides will definitely play a very important role in the game.However, when the Raptors' opponent is replaced by the Thunder, their defense must be another scene.
Judging from the players on both sides, the two sides will not make too many adjustments in the lineup.Lowry's defense against Westbrook has neither an advantage nor a big disadvantage.As the steal leader in the history of the Raptors, Lowry's ability on the defensive end allows him to limit most players at the same position.Of course, Westbrook is equally good at those things.Green defends An Luo, which will be a point that affects the trend of the game.There are not many people in this league who can limit An Luo one-on-one, and even fewer people who want to limit An Luo while running without the ball.Danny Green is a very good 3D. Even though his current "3" is getting less and less reliable, his defense is getting stronger and stronger.The three is the most confrontational position in the game.Leonard and Paul George are both offensive and defensive players. Which of these two can gain the upper hand will greatly affect the outcome of the game.In the inside competition, the Raptors are ahead.Whether it is Grant facing Siakam or Adams facing Gasol Jr., it is difficult to perform well enough.
It is worth noting that Gasol may pull to the outside to defend, and let Green, who has always been bad at three-pointers, strengthen the inside defense.That's what they did with the Bucks.However, since Adams' outside range is not enough, the Raptors don't need to switch defenses, just stick to the initial matchup.
If the Thunder play off-the-ball tactics and run three-pointers, the Raptors' excellent defensive ability will not give them the chance to directly open three-pointers. If they make a forced shot, the hit rate cannot be guaranteed.And it can be expected that An Luo will definitely receive special care from the other party, and it is very likely that he will not be able to provide much help to Thunder.
But such defense is a double-edged sword.The Thunder is not just An Luo who can score. Once he attracts enough Raptors' defensive strength, Paul George, Westbrook and even Grant will get more and better opportunities.
More importantly, although the Raptors' defense is good, the Thunder's defense is not bad.Under the same defensive strength, the pressure on the Raptors will definitely be greater.Even if Leonard is good enough, in the previous games, he could always rely on his personal ability to help the team out of the quagmire.But the Thunder, the defending champion, would definitely not give him that chance.As long as their defense allows Leonard to fall into a solo offensive rhythm, the game will become easier.
(End of this chapter)