"It hasn't just been the Raptors' twin boulders that have stepped up. Rebounding from the wings and guards has ticked up too as the entire team has fought tooth and nail to not get bullied by the big guys. Brandon Ingram's rebounding has stood out in particular. So they haven't been without help, but the brunt of the work has still fallen on the backs of their two pseudo-big men."
"Barnes and Murray-Boyles have uniquely carried the Raptors through this challenging and offbeat span of games, largely by defying conventionand stretching the expectations of what a player of their proportions can offer. And while it might not be viable for an extended stretch, it also may have unearthed a secret sauce, one that could beeffective even when melded with a seven-footer to fuel more winning in the future."
The Raptors rank 28th in efficiency against zone defenses while facing zone the fourth-most in the league. The Kings deployed zone 75% of the game, creating early difficulties for Toronto until Scottie Barnes adjusted and broke their coverage. Jakob Poeltl and Collin Murray-Boyles are unavailable, prompting increased rebounding from wings and guards, with Brandon Ingram notable on the glass. Barnes and Murray-Boyles have carried large defensive and rebounding burdens by expanding positional expectations. Murray-Boyles is now sidelined with a thumb contusion, Poeltl's return is uncertain, and Day'Ron Sharpe and Goga Bitadze are mentioned as potential trade targets.
Read at Raptors Republic
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