Hot-blooded basketball super guard

Chapter 227 Raptors' Defensive Lineup

The Raptors have been ranked second in the Eastern Conference in recent years, which is due to their strength. With the championship, the team is also able to retain some players. After all, such a thing as a championship is quite mysterious.

Whether it was the period of the flying man Carter or the period of the Dragon King Bosh, there was no hope of a championship at that time, so they couldn't keep people.In recent years, the changes in the NBA league structure and the injection of fresh blood to the Raptors have brought them closer to the championship.

First of all, let's talk about the league structure. Today's NBA is strong in the west and weak in the east. It is very difficult to break out of the siege in the west.It can be said that any of the top four teams in the Western Conference will not dare to say that they will win if they meet each other.

Although the Spurs are now No. [-] in the Western Conference, the Spurs mainly rely on Radar and Aldridge. Once the two are restricted, the Spurs will be beaten back to their original form.The second-ranked Lakers in the West have James, thick eyebrows, and a big cousin. The five-star Lakers' defense is impenetrable, and each of them is an offensive weapon.

The third Clippers in the Western Conference, Leonard and Paul George, just hearing the names of these two people makes people feel dizzy. There are still two of the top five small forwards in the league. Those who have both offense and defense can no longer have both.

The Rockets ranked No. [-] in the Western Conference, Harden and Westbrook's super backcourt combination, once the dead five youngsters show their power, the solid shield of the five-star Lakers will also be shattered into pieces.

In addition to the Bucks in the East, the rankings of other teams have changed a lot.As far as the strength of the Raptors is in the East, they may lose both when they meet the Bucks, and whoever wins or loses may lose.The teams behind are up and down. The 76ers can win the Celtics, but they can also lose to the Timberwolves at the bottom of the West. The Nets can win the Lakers, but they can also lose to the Magic and Hornets, so their strength is unstable.

Compared with the Nets, the Raptors are more stable for 76.

From the perspective of the lineup, the Raptors have a complete configuration, from the main force to the substitute, both have scoring ability and defensive ability, which is very balanced.

To be honest, the current Raptors have no superstars, but they can rank second in the Eastern Conference. Their balanced strength makes it difficult to parry.Take the Nets as an example, maybe the Nets' main lineup can beat the Raptors' main lineup, but the Nets' bench will be beaten by the Raptors' bench.Once it's the playoffs, the advantages of this lineup will begin.

Raptors starting point guard Kyle Lowry, known as the "Small Steel Cannon", although he is only 183 in height, his body is extremely strong and flexible.

Although Lowry is short in height, he has amazing speed, full of explosive power, and has the ability to steal and block shots.But the shortcomings are also quite obvious. The short stature will inevitably be attacked by the opponent as a strong point in the defensive matchup, and the assist-to-turnover ratio is uncontrollable, and the game is often ruined because of a key mistake in a game.

Lowry, a small steel cannon born in 1986, has entered the last glorious moment of his career. In two or three years, Lowry may retire.In these years, he has also been selected to the third team of the best team in the NBA, and has four All-Star experiences. The most important thing is that he has a championship ring in his hand. With this thing, he has confidence.

The Raptors starting shooting guard Norman Powell, was selected 2015th in the second round of 46. It was another counterattack in the second round. I don’t know that Chris Paul, a veteran who has struggled all his life and never won a championship, saw a What would it be like for a second-round pick to wear a championship ring?

Norman Powell's running and jumping ability is excellent, with a wingspan of 2 meters, he is good at finishing at the basket, and his confrontation ability is good enough to hit a layup in the basket confrontation. He is an active defender and good at steals; the disadvantage is his height Insufficient, the three-point ability is not stable.

The Raptors starting small forward Pascal Siakam, in the 2016 NBA draft, Pascal Siakam was selected by the Toronto Raptors with the 27th overall pick in the first round, and won the NBA Development League championship in the 2016-17 season MVP of the NBA Development League Finals, won the NBA championship with the Raptors in the 2018-19 season and was elected the Most Improved Player, and was selected to the All-Star Eastern Conference starting lineup in the 2019-20 season.

In terms of height and positioning, Siakam is a power forward. The only fly in the ointment of the Raptors lineup is the small forward. After all, it was Leonard's position before. Now that the superstar leaves, there must be someone to take the top. .

Pascal Siakam has plenty of physical energy, strong mobility, long wingspan, outstanding rebounding ability, strong scoring ability in the penalty area, developed a stable mid-range shot, faster than players of the same physique, has a strong desire to train, blocks shots The ability is good; the disadvantage is that the body is still not strong enough, and the ability to prevent pick-and-roll and outside players is poor.

Being able to get the most improved player in the NBA, Siakam's progress is very huge. Now that he has played his worth, no matter which team he goes to, he will have a place.

The Raptors starting power forward Ibaka, in the 2008 NBA Draft, Serge Ibaka was selected by the Seattle SuperSonics (now the Oklahoma City Thunder) in the first round of the 24th place, but according to According to the team's arrangement, Ibaka continued to stay in Spain to train and officially entered the NBA in the 2009-10 season.During the Thunder period, Ibaka won the NBA block leader for two consecutive seasons and entered the league's best defensive first team for three consecutive years.In the selection of the best defensive player in the 2011-12 season, Ibaka ranked second. In 2016, Ibaka was traded to the Orlando Magic and in 2017 to the Toronto Raptors.

Is it scary?The block leader for two consecutive years, and the best defensive team for three consecutive years, just short of the best defensive player award.

Ibaka, relying on his terrifying defense, almost changed the Thunder's third junior to the Thunder's fourth during the Thunder period. He also traded Harden at that time, causing the three to disintegrate. Otherwise, with Durant, Harden, Westbrook, The terrifying Ibaka has won a few Thunder champions.

Raptors center, Marc Gasol, Spanish player, brother of Pau Gasol.Another veteran, a former All-Star player, can be selected as an All-Star in the West, which has a higher gold content than the East.He was selected as an All-Star starter, the best lineup, and won the Best Defensive Player Award.

None of Marc Gasol's skills is particularly good, his strengths are comprehensive.He has a high basketball IQ and knows exactly what to do.Marc Gasol has a good feel for the floor space, he's good at running off the ball, which is important because there's only one ball on the court, and most of the time you have to run without the ball.

There is an Ibaka inside, and a small plus of the best defensive player, the Raptors' inside is like an iron wall.

Speaking of the substitute lineup, Fred Van Fleet, who was selected as the best sixth man candidate, must be the first substitute.VanVleet entered the 2016 NBA Draft in 2016 but was not selected by the team. In July 2016, joined the Toronto Raptors.

An undrafted pick who can make a name for himself in the finals. Van Vleet worked hard enough and seized his few opportunities. Maybe the real you will live forever only when you are dying.The once lost is to meet a better self.

Losing the election is not terrible. Some people can stand up. Because they have been defeated, they cherish the hard-won opportunities even more.

The Raptors' substitute is not without luxury. The substitute small forward Anunoby is another player who played worth in the finals.There are also forward swingmen McCaw, Stanley Johnson and so on when the Warriors won the championship.

At the Toronto Aviation Center Stadium, the Raptors are all gearing up to welcome the arrival of the league's No. [-] Spurs.

(End of this chapter)