3. Be the League’s Top Defensive Team

Last season the Raptors were the 5th best defensive team (103.4). Before the All-Star break they were even  better at 4th (102.6) but they dropped off significantly and were only 11th (105.1) when it came to the latter half of the season. Their defensive capabilities continued to plummet when the playoffs came around. Out of the 16 teams Toronto was the 3rd worst team with a paltry 112.5 rating in their 10 postseason games.

Next season, coach Nick Nurse and his squad should be aiming for the stars when it comes to defense. In acquiring Kawhi Leonard they ascertained themselves as one of the most versatile defensive teams in the league. Barring 2017-18 (where Leonard only featured in 9 games) Kawhi has been top 10 in defensive win shares for three seasons in a row. With OG Anunoby as well, they have two of the best one-on-one defenders in the NBA.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBq7TVbv1G4

Pascal Siakam has untapped potential as a help and man-to-man defender combined with athleticism in spades. Those young defensive studs and a hopefully revitalised Serge Ibaka give Toronto all the tools to be one of the most devastating defenses league-wide.

That’s not even taking into account proven defensive stalwarts in their backcourt in Danny Green and Kyle Lowry. Per Sporting News, Green has has led the league in blocks at his position for five consecutive seasons.

Danny Green lives for transition defensepic.twitter.com/LmSnC7cyu4

— Tom Petrini (@RealTomPetrini) March 25, 2018

Back-up guard Delon Wright is continuing to improve on that area of the floor giving the Raptors a defensive arsenal that’s set to be the envy of the league. Utah and Boston will rival Toronto as one of the NBA’s elite defenses next season but with the players coach Nurse and his team can deploy at will, the team up North look set to be a bonafide defensive juggernaut.

Next Up: Goal 2