"Not to be outdone defensively, and they often aren't since they're a top-5 defense, the Raptors managed to stall what the Hawks were trying to do on the other side of the floor. It required a high level of connnectivity to keep track of Atlanta's incessant punch and relocate offense. It lacks in creativity, yes, but it certainly doesn't lack for effort."
"The physicality was sustained into the fourth quarter. It wasn't just the big forwards either. You could see it in the Barrett-Porzingis matchup that kept poking its head up. You could see it when Dick had to bang around with Okongwu for a couple possessions at a time. The Raptors kept the Hawks at bay, always prepared with a stiff arm. The first 7-0 run the Raptors allowed at the front end of the fourth was answered accordingly."
The Raptors used balanced scoring with seven players in double figures to secure a season-series sweep of the Atlanta Hawks. Rookie Collin Murray-Boyles delivered his best game, contributing across offense and defense, while Gradey Dick impacted both ends with physical defending. The team relied on top-5 defense, strong connectivity, and sustained physicality to disrupt Atlanta's punch-and-relocate offense despite limited offensive creativity. Key moments included responses to Hawks' 7-0 runs with a Walter block and an and-1 from Barnes. The combination of defensive cohesion, depth scoring, and young player development supports future team success.
Read at Raptors Republic
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