The season in the NBA has just begun and although we have still few games We already have some results that have been quite surprising, according to the expectations we had about certain teams. On the negative side, Raptors, Wizards and Nuggets are currently out of playoffs, and the feelings are being very negative.
Toronto Raptors (1-4), the mistake in attack
As of January 3, the Raptors have a negative balance of 1-4, which shouldn’t set off the alarms, but it should rethink certain truisms that we took for granted. His summer was negative with the departure of Marc and Ibaka, but the renovation of VanVleet and the continuation of their block made think that they were going to get into playoffs without problems, but it seems that they will not be able to reach that goal with the ease that was assumed.
Your calendar, Besides, it hasn’t been especially hard. They only managed to beat the Knicks, while they have lost against the Pelicans, at home, and against Spurs, Sixers and Pelicans again, away. This week they will play against teams like Boston, Phoenix or Sacramento, so they have to improve a lot to take flight.
In attack the Raptors have had a very sharp decline. Last year they were the 13th best team in the NBA in offensive ratio and this season they have dropped to the third to last place (101.8), just above Warriors and Thunder. The main problem is being the success in the field shots, which has gone from 45.8 to 41.4%. The team is circulating the ball worse (Marc’s loss is noticeable in that regard) with 10 fewer passes per game, although they tend to find high-percentage shooting positions (the 40% of his shots are in catch&shoot) although their percentage in them should improve (34% in that type of launch). They should also improve in their shooting selection (few shots in the restricted area, high percentage) and especially in the hit in triples (32.4% by the way). The natural evolution is for the Raptors to improve their percentages, if they continue to create good shooting situations (31% of their shots are released).
In defense the situation has not gotten too bad. The Raptors are the sixth best defensive team in the NBA (104.3 points received per 100 possessions) and it is the only one, along with the Knicks, that has a net rating negative of the first 10, the result of his ill-advised attack. Players like Pascal Siakam (16.5 points and 39.4% from field goals) o Norman Powell (9.4 points and 32.6% in field goals) must return to their usual figures to return to see the Raptors in the place that is assumed.
Fred VanVleet dropped a game-high 25 PTS and added 7 AST & 5 REB in the @Raptors win over New York! pic.twitter.com/vcpzt81IR0
— NBA Canada (@NBACanada) January 1, 2021
Denver Nuggets (1-4), the step forward that does not arrive
We expected Denver as the great alternative to the Los Angeles teams, as they were last year, and not only have they not improved, but they are at the bottom of the Western Conference. The team is practically the same, but so far they have not shown the version of the past playoffs (or that of the comebacks). The Nuggets have lost to the Kings twice, Clippers and Suns. They only beat the Rockets, in a very even game. In his case, the cause of his defeats is very simple, defense.
While in attack the effectiveness is quite high (4th in offensive ratio, 5th last season) in defense they are the worst team in the NBA (They receive more than 116 points for every 100 possessions, last year 110). It was the aspect to improve compared to last year and they have worsened it a lot. They are the fourth team that defends the opponent’s shot the worst, something bloody in the triple (42%). This is because many of your opponents’ shots are wide (32%) or wide (23%). Further, they are the fourth worst in the entire league in defensive rebounding (32.2), so they give second chances frequently.
The only thing in which they stand out at the moment is the scarce concession of shots in the restricted area (18.4, 2nd lowest figure in the NBA), but it may be due more to the spaces they leave for open shots, of large percentage as we have seen. Yes, they are the worst team defending the zone, since they allow 74% in shots in the paint.
The departure of players like Mason Plumlee and Jerami Grant has lowered the Nuggets’ defensive intensity and Mike Malone will need to make immediate adjustments. Murray, Porter and Jokic have never stood out for their defense, but the coach will have to give a return to the defensive system to better defend the area and reduce the number of open shots from his rivals.
You can see the pressure Paul/Booker can put on a defense late in games. CP3 comes off P&R, Jokic drops back and then stunts when CP3 gets to the elbow. Denver recovers and now Booker comes off P&R. Great switch by Barton, great activity, bad bounce and Booker hits a big shot. pic.twitter.com/gRsyoe21i9
— Steve Jones Jr. (@stevejones20) January 2, 2021
Washington Wizards (1-5), the jump that has not been made
Westbrook’s arrival was a breath of fresh air to a team in low hours in recent years. The Wall-Beal project did not take off and the arrival of the ex-MVP for Wall’s toxic contract gave hope to the downcast fans of the capital. But the reality has been very different and not everything has been due to Westbrook.
The Wizards have only managed to win one game, to the Wolves, a team that is not one of the leaders of the league. As we will see, their schedule was to get off to a very distant start from what they have had. They have lost, twice, against Orlando and Chicago and another time against the Sixers. Although the two preceding teams have a clear solution, the hopes in the District of Columbia to reach playoffs they are diluted among the numerous team problems.
In attack the team is not performing badly (8th in offensive ratio), but when you consider the poor quality of the defenses they have faced and the quality of their players, it was a good chance for the Wizards to take the NBA elite by storm in its offensive side. They are finding their players open (21% of shots wide open) but they must do it more frequently if they want to improve their offensive effectiveness. Is it so in the top ten as you pass per game (301) and are the second team in the league with the most assists (28.3 per game). Scott Brooks has never been an outstanding offensive strategist, but with Westbrook, Beal, Bertans or Avdija he has material to give a twist to an offensive system that could be in the elite of the league.
In defense they are having a lot of problems. They were already a deficient team on that side of the court last season (114.7 offensive ratio) and this year they remain at the bottom of the league (113.4). The same names above, an explosive cocktail in attack, are a collection of names with little defensive intensity. They grant a 48% success to the rival, it is difficult for them to close the rebound (34.5 defensive rebounds per night) and they don’t attack the passing lines (6.8 robberies per night, 22nd). With that data, Brooks must make a lot of adjustments and try to maximize the chances of a team whose absence of playoffs it would be a resounding failure.
Wizards’ on-ball defense is laughable. Then makes their entire rotation defense fall apart. pic.twitter.com/x3WUCkSXEc
— Neil Dalal (@NeilDalal96) January 1, 2021
