The full-court press works for the Raptors, but here’s why they can’t use it all the time

The Raptors got here out for the second half of Sunday’s sport towards the Portland Path Blazers wanting like a very totally different group. They have been energetic, pressured turnovers, and on an evening when pictures weren’t falling their suffocating defence led to some simple buckets.

Down 30 on the break, the subsequent 24 minutes could be spent whittling away on the deficit. With underneath 90 seconds to play the Raptors pulled inside 4, and whereas the comeback fell quick in a 114-105 loss, the actual fact they even had a shot within the waning moments spoke to the group’s grit and a few outside-the-box pondering from the top coach.

The turning level got here on the half when a determined Nick Nurse began utilizing a full-court press. It’s a method that’s usually restricted to the newbie ranks — hardly ever seen on the professional stage in something however quick bursts — however as soon as the Raptors put it on, they didn’t take it off, and little by little the elevated strain eroded the Blazers’ lead.

Within the first half, the Blazers shot 56.8 per cent from the sphere and dedicated 10 turnovers. They nearly matched that whole in a frenetic third quarter alone with seven turnovers, whereas taking pictures simply 42 per cent. By the top of the quarter, the deficit was trimmed by 11 because the Raptors gave themselves an outdoors shot at a historic comeback.

The press labored so nicely over the ultimate 24 minutes that some informal observers is perhaps questioning why they don’t see extra of it from Nurse and the Raptors. If a defensive scheme may be that efficient, why not flip to it earlier? Why wouldn’t it grow to be a key component of how this group performs? Effectively, it’s not that easy.

“We’ve toyed round with a few of that stuff earlier than,” stated Nurse, whose group took the time without work Monday following the robust loss.

“I believe that it’s a potential change of rhythm. It’s a second-unit factor. Perhaps it’s a ‘begin to quarter’ factor you could possibly do in the midst of the sport. I imply, often groups will assault and go down and beat lots of that stuff. However they have been attempting to guard a giant lead and taking part in fairly tentatively towards it and all these issues.”

Within the newbie ranks, the press is efficient at creating disarray and making groups uncomfortable. Opposing guards may be rushed into making ill-advised passes out of double groups that result in turnovers and simple buckets. NCAA coach Bob Huggins constructed a whole profession off it, first at Cincinnati, then at Kansas State and now at West Virginia. It’s a staple at each March Insanity.

The press is a chaotic, stunning factor when it really works, and it may be an absolute catastrophe when it doesn’t. As soon as groups begin double-teaming gamers 91 toes away from the basket, all it takes is a cool-headed level guard and correct spacing to get a wide-open look nearly each time down the ground.

NBA gamers are too good for that. The press would possibly work in the event you catch a group off-guard from time to time, however use it sufficient and efficient guards will slice by with surgical precision. The Blazers managed to do this, too, even with out the providers of injured guard Damian Lillard. They only weren’t efficient at ending off the performs as soon as they did.

Portland Path Blazers ahead Trendon Watford fights for possession with Raptors ahead Pascal Siakam in Toronto’s loss Sunday night time.

• 
• 

The lopsided rating possible performed a job. The Blazers dedicated a number of turnovers off the press, however in addition they had a ton of open seems to be. Within the circulation of a traditional sport, that may have been lethal. In a blowout, the pictures would possibly nonetheless go up, however not with out some inner second guessing about whether or not extra time ought to have been taken off the clock first.

“These pictures are robust if you’re means up and also you’re getting pressed and swiftly you end up alone within the nook and also you’re questioning, ‘Ought to I shoot this or shouldn’t I?’” Nurse stated. “If you happen to try this, you’ll miss lots of these. About the one time they missed tonight is once we left them utterly huge open.”

The Raptors, with their size and athleticism, have the fitting gamers to type an efficient press. The wingspans of Pascal Siakam and Scottie Barnes reduce off passing lanes. The energy of OG Anunoby helps pin guys within the nook, whereas the velocity of Fred VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr. places strain on opposing guards.

The items are there, however even when one other NBA group had problem dealing with it, the full-court press isn’t sustainable. Not for a group that lacks depth and has spent the higher a part of a month taking part in seven or eight guys each night time. In contrast to faculty, there isn’t sufficient restoration time between video games to tug off this technique each night time. Doing it for one matchup is tough sufficient.

“It’s robust to press like that,” Siakam admitted after the loss. “Within the NBA the blokes are good … however I believe generally we will get into that as a result of we've got the athletes to do this. Perhaps we will, however we're at all times a group that likes to press and make guys uncomfortable.”

There gained’t be too many repeats of Sunday night time’s technique, however that doesn’t imply the press will disappear solely from Nurse’s playbook. It’s one other merchandise he can pull out of his toolbox when the Raptors want to change the tempo or safe a fast turnover. It’s simply not going to grow to be a daily factor.

The press works in faculty, however on the NBA stage the danger usually isn’t well worth the reward, Sunday night time excluded.