Watching yesterdays game, I went and watched the first game against the kings and I noticed a huge difference.

Then to validate my assumption, I went to watch all the last few raptor games and the ones before that. I validated the assumption but I wanted to next learn the reason for the new change.

Then I watched clips from the best wins and the worst losses and I figured out that precious is a huge part of the difference but he doesn't account for all of it.

All year we have seen Nick Nurse throw multiple bodies at star players limiting their shots, the stats and their impact. Game after game we see role players get open shots, open drives, open 3s.

In the games the raptors do well, they don't double team stars outside certain areas. Usually at the first step areas (just inside the 3pt line) to the paint is the area to best bother a star player. Anywhere outside of this, makes passing to an open player easier.

With no center, Raps players are double teaming opponent stars too far up or too far into the paint to make up for the lack of defensive anchor.

With Precious, they aren't doing that as much. Last night at the kings game, you can see it evidently and Jack and Sherman talked about it in the post game show.

Instead of double teaming Sabonis too high or too low, they sagged off and doubled team in the first step areas. It worked really well as Sabonis is an amazing passer, and his passes got picked off for 9 turnovers and he never got a chance to get too close to the rim.

I think this has caused a lot of confidence lost in the raps and affected their shots on offense and their morale on defense too.

Tomorrow against Golden State pay attention to where they begin their double team on stars and see how we do based on that.

Bench was also great:

Boucher and Precious off the bench killed it. Giving a great pop to the offense.