Unlike past years, a good defensive effort hasn't been enough for the Raptors to win some games.
The Toronto Raptors are in the throes of their worst losing streak in nine years having racked up a baker's dozen 13 straight losses. It's the second-longest streak in club history. Some look at the slide and say, "How can this happen?"
Well the record could easily be different but in the cruel bottom-line business that is wins and losses in the NBA, as the old adage goes, it is what it is, a long losing skid. Over the course of the losing streak there have been seven single digit losses and some occasions where Toronto, not known for its defence, has played well enough on the defensive end, to earn wins. Those of you who are regular listeners and readers know that the careful tracking of the Raptors defensive field-goal percentage is a huge determinant in the team's success.
At the start of the current campaign, since the start of the 2006-07 season, the Raptors had a .786 winning percentage when holding opponents below 45 per cent. And no, we're not talking four or five times a season. On average, Toronto has held the opponent below its own personal "Mendoza line" in close to 33 games per season -- about 40 per cent of the time. The Raptors have never lost more than eight times a season when putting the clamps on the opposition.
But it has been different this season. Toronto has already suffered eight losses this season when playing what normally amounts to good enough defence to get a win. You guessed it, over the course of the losing streak, the Raptors have held the opposition below 45 per cent on five occasions with nothing to show for it in the left-hand column.
Now the Raptors have never been a great defensive team and when they turn the trick keeping opponents below 45 per cent, which would put you in decent standing in the NBA but certainly not at the top, they usually score enough to win. That's what might be missing right now in Toronto. Injuries and a lack of offensive firepower have made it difficult for them to score enough on those nights when the defence is up to par. As assistant coach P.J. Carlesimo said on Sportsnet Radio FAN 590, the injuries are a factor and with good teams he has been associated with, it's a balance of scoring and defence that has to get it done.
The bottom line in these eyes is that the defence is not great, and never has been, but the offence is not as productive as it has been in years past. Toronto is no longer able to stay in games the way it did in the past by using its offense to outscore the opposition.
Many Raptor fans, in a perverse way, are okay with the season going the way it is because they want the consolation prize, a high draft pick. But just a word of caution to those who think high picks are the magic elixir. You still have to draft well and then have those young players have to develop to the point where they are useful parts on your team or are attractive enough to potential buyers to help you continue to build your squad.
Overcoming a losing culture that has been created can also be another hurdle as it creates a negative perception of the team. Bottom line is it's going to take development and patience as mentioned earlier in the season.
One of Toronto's recent opponents, the Minnesota Timberwolves, is a team to keep an eye on during upcoming seasons. The Wolves have a significant number of lottery picks on their squad (Michael Beasley 2nd overall, Wesley Johnson 4th overall, Kevin Love 5th overall, Jonny Flynn 6th overall, Martell Webster 6th overall, Cory Brewer 7th overall) not to mention Darko Milicic, who was drafted 2nd overall and has yet to live up to his billing.
Minnesota is working to develop these players but there is no sure thing. Oklahoma City has done it, although they have yet to win a playoff series. But again, there are no guarantees.
