Samson Folk brings on Marc Nolan to discuss the Raptors’ forwards.
Here is Marc’s twitter
Here is [Marc’s youtube](https://www.youtube.com/ @CheapSeats73)
From Louis:
“The Raptors have spent more than half a decade (2020-2026) with one pitch. Sometimes that pitch was extremely good and sometimes extremely bad. But the team has largely been defined by one route to success — and this is despite having multiple head coaches scheme a variety of different offences and defences. That has resulted in zero NBA playoff series wins.
This upcoming season projects to finally give the Raptors a bevy of pitches under their command.
First and foremost, the Raptors can play with devastating size. This has been true for some time; the Raptors finished fourth last season in points in the paint. Led by Scottie Barnes, Jakob Poeltl (when healthy), Collin Murray-Boyles (especially in the playoffs), and RJ Barrett, the Raptors had an arsenal of wings, forwards, and bigs last season who cut and passed into the paint to pound smaller opponents under the basket. Barrett, as has been the case for a few seasons now, was made far more valuable to the Raptors because he was one of the team’s only self-creators who actually drove to the rim. Barnes practically doubled his drives in the playoffs and proved to be, when everyone was trying as hard as possibly, simply an unstoppable force.
That should be even truer this upcoming season. Though Brandon Ingram last season and Kawhi Leonard in his career take similar shots, Leonard takes shorter mid-rangers and reaches them with far more physicality and consistency. He is much more consistent when he does reach the paint. He is just generally bigger and stronger. Size will continue to be one of the Raptors’ strengths.
But with Leonard on board, the Raptors should be able to do much more than simply play big and strong.
In fact, and likely for the first time in a long time, the Raptors should be able to actually play small and reap the benefits of playing small at the same time. In the modern NBA, teams play small to ramp up pace and shooting. The Raptors just haven’t had the shooting on the roster to actually do that, even if they have benched their centers. Barnes remains a spotty shooter when he ramps down to center (though I think he should have a really positive shooting year), so the Raptors don’t get much spacier with him at the five. Ditto for Murray-Boyles.
But Barnes is a generational defender, and when he slots in at the five, he gives Toronto insane court coverage at the big spot without taking away schematic versatility. Barnes can play drop coverage like a proper center. He can not only switch onto guards, but actually start possessions on them (and even entire playoff series against them). He can play in gaps and help at the rim when offences play away from him. Barnes at center is a defensive nightmare.”
Have a blessed day.