The Toronto Raptors are off to a hot start so far this season, with two double-digit wins, albeit against opponents of…let’s say “uncertain” quality. Still, they’ve been more or less as advertised, especially on defence, where they’ve given up just 97 points per game and held players like Anthony Davis and Josh Giddey to to horrible shooting nights. Now, they’re hitting the road to take on the new-look Minnesota Timberwolves, who have had nothing but good vibes lately. Will the Raptors pick up another
win? Let’s take a look at how the two teams match up.
On the last episode
Last year’s Raptors lost both matchups against Minnesota, both by single digits. Both teams have made notable changes since then, which could make for an exciting early-season game.
Know thy enemy
There’s a new kid in town! After a couple of seasons of hoping an aging Mike Conley can turn back the clock and buoy them at the point guard position (not to mention their point guard of the future, Rob Dillingham, not working out and already on his second team), the Wolves shocked the league by trading the jettisoning the talented-but-mercurial Julius Randle and the locally adored Naz Reid while bringing in a walking highlight reel in LaMelo Ball.
For all of his goofiness, Ball is one of the league’s premier playmakers, a rare tall guard with a dangerous handle, real creativity, and the ability to make any pass with either hand. His shot selection can be, um, optimistic, and his defensive focus has come and gone, but he’s looked like a surprisingly natural fit in his first-ever stint on a serious team with serious aspirations, even stepping up on the defensive end so far.
But Anthony Edwards’s new backcourt partner isn’t the only thing that’s changed the look of these Wolves. Jonathan Kuminga is also new in town, and starting at Randle’s old power forward spot. He’s smaller, but one of the most explosive athletes at his position. Like Ball, if the Wolves can hone in on what makes him dangerous and hide some of his weaknesses, they’ll be hell to play against. The defensive foundation in Minnesota was already strong, but the added offensive dynamism and juice in transition (Ball is electric on the break and Kuminga will no doubt get tons of alley-oop opportunities) could propel them to another level, especially if Kuminga keeps shooting like he has been this year.
Depth could still be an issue, though. Ayo Dosunmu is one of the best bench players in the league, but there aren’t exactly a ton of reliable players outside of him and Terrence Shannon Jr. Toronto’s a much deeper team and could feast if the Wolves are forced to play bench-heavy units.
Key matchup(s)
The Wolves can put up points in bunches, as they demonstrated when they dropped 131 on the road against the Miami Heat in their season opener, but the Raptors match up pretty well defensively against anyone not featuring an elite scoring centre. That being said, Rudy Gobert’s size could cause them problems as an offensive rebounder, especially if the Raps play a lot of small-ball.
Speaking of Gobert, he’s the key on the other side of the floor, as always. He’s pretty good at defending on switches (despite what viral clips of elite scorers cooking him would lead you to believe), but he’s at his best when he can organize a defence in drop coverage against teams that feature non-shooting bigs, which is exactly what the Raptors are. It’s tough to score in the halfcourt against any Gobert-led defence, but there could be opportunities to take advantage of unproven defenders like Ball and Kuminga off the ball.
This game will be the both teams’ first real test of the new season, and it’ll be must-see TV for anyone curious about how two teams at the centre of some of the NBA’s biggest offseason moves will shape up this year.
