Opposing defenses used to treat the Raptors like a meandering bear in the woods. They’d spring traps, clamp down on Toronto’s very identity, and the results were inhumane.
Milwaukee’s long-armed blitzes nearly sent the Raptors spiraling towards a rebuild. Cleveland’s brought the 2017-18 season to an unceremonious end. DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry weren’t totally to blame — at times they’d break through doubles only for DeMarre Carroll to botch a drive or for Patrick Patterson to aggressively pass up an open three — but it’s not as if they were turnover or dumb shot-proof when facing extra attention.