TAMPA, FLORIDA - MAY 11: Khem Birch #24 of the Toronto Raptors. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
The Golden State Warriors, who went on a five-year string of NBA Finals appearances between 2015-2019, winning the Larry O’Brien trophy three times, are the template for small-ball imitators like the Toronto Raptors.
While small-ball suggests moving to a smaller lineup to facilitate better speed, shooting, ball handling, and defensive flexibility, it does not come without its flaws. It requires sacrificing size and girth on the interior at both ends of the floor, reducing a team’s ability to rebound effectively, a philosophy the Raptors found themselves burned by several times over last year.