Raptors out-Thunder the Thunder, see their best performance in years

"On a frigid Sunday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder, a winter storm constricting much of North America, the Raptors channeled that energy in their icy grip on the Thunder's offence. Toronto played a near-perfect game and as a result topped the league's best. It's hard to call a 54-50 half perfect for the Raptors, but that's more or less what the first half was."

"Toronto's defensive gameplan saw immaculate commitment from its players. The plan was to swarm the middle, help early and often, and only recover to some shooters, not all. Players like Lu Dort, Jaylin Williams, Cason Wallace, and Kenrich Williams saw half-hearted closeouts if at all. Some of those resulted in burns - Dort hit four triples in the first half - but the tactic saw the four combine to shoot 4-of-12 in total in the first half. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander saw early double teams on occasion, before he even put the ball on the floor, and Toronto's backline defence forced plenty of turnovers or deflections reading his passes out of those traps."

"Jamal Shead, Ja'Kobe Walter, and Ochai Agbaji survived against Gilgeous-Alexander on the defensive end. They generally stayed in front, pushed him into help, and didn't foul. Walter especially thrived defensively, forcing turnovers and deflections, diving on loose balls, and finding himself an immediate lynchpin."

The Raptors executed near-flawless team defense, swarming the middle, helping early, and selectively recovering to shooters. The approach limited key opposing threats and produced turnovers and deflections, even when shooters like Lu Dort made outside shots. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander faced early double teams and had his passing lanes disrupted. Role defenders Jamal Shead, Ja'Kobe Walter, and Ochai Agbaji stayed in front, avoided fouls, and forced turnovers; Walter emerged as a defensive lynchpin. Offensively, Toronto protected the ball, committing only two turnovers in the half, and attacked in transition with Sandro Mamukelashvili finishing with layups and free throws.

Read at Raptors Republic