Toronto Raptors won’t go down easily; ready to defend NBA title
The Toronto Raptors appear to be poised and focused as the NBA Playoffs are drawing near. They will be looking to defend their title in a wide-open Eastern Conference that’s up for grabs as they prepare to face-off against the Brooklyn Nets in the first round.
Many critics thought that the Raptors level of play would drop dramatically after the departure of Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard during the free agency period. One would believe that losing a player of Leonard’s caliber would have resulted in a steep decline in the win column, but that has not been the case for this team who has been consistent and resilient.
Before the NBA’s hiatus, the Raptors compiled a 46-18 record, which was well on track to surpass last season’s total of 58 wins. The Raptors have clinched the second seed in the Eastern Conference and are ready to defend their title. One key part of their success was their excellent defense.