NBA Playoffs 2020: 5 reasons the Toronto Raptors can win it all

2. Sloppy offense plays right into the hands of the Raptors’ swarming defense

Like it or not, even after weeks of training camp and individual workouts building up to that July 31 restart date, and even with eight regular-season games leading up the start of the playoffs, we’re still going to be seeing a lot of sloppy, ugly basketball in this postseason.

That plays right into the hands of the Raptors and their stingy, long-armed defense that already thrived on chaos before the four-and-a-half-month layover. In addition to being the NBA’s second-ranked defense that only surrendered 104.9 points per 100 possessions, Toronto also allowed the second-lowest field goal percentage (42.9 percent) and lowest 3-point percentage (33.7 percent) to opponents, despite giving up the second-most 3-point attempts per game.

This team’s ability to routinely contest long-range shots will be vital with all the rusty bricks we’re bound to see in Orlando, but the Raptors’ tendency to turn defense into offense will be uniquely beneficial. Offensive timing and shooting are things you need to practice to avoid regression; defensive intensity is a lot easier to jump right back into without daily reps.

Before the break, the Raptors were forcing the second-most turnovers in the league (16.8 per game) and averaging the second-most steals (8.8 per game). It was no coincidence they also ranked first in fast break points (19.4 per game) and second in points off turnovers (19.6 per game). If they’re contesting 3s with their usual vigor and using their all-encompassing length to play passing lanes for score easy points and stoutly protecting the paint (ranking second in opponent points in the paint), this team will be ripe for any sort of upset in a seven-game series.