Timberwolves, Knicks provide blueprint for Raptors should move forward

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One team handed the Raptors the worst home loss in franchise history while the other dealt Toronto its most lopsided defeat ever.

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As the New York Knicks and Minnesota Timberwolves continue to make waves in the post-season, the Raptors can cast an envious eye on both franchises and draw lessons.

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In each case, the Knicks and T’Wolves are being driven by defensive-first head coaches who have established a culture that tends to carry teams when the lights are at their brightest.

Say what you want about the recently completed Raptors season, but no one will ever say the team was known for its defensive play.

In fact, one of the biggest deficiencies was revealed on the defensive end of the floor

When the Knicks came to town, the Raptors meekly lost 145-101.

When the Raptors visited the Target Center in Minneapolis, they were pounded 133-85.

The circumstances and the many off-court issues that persisted even before the first game was played — oddly enough it involved the T’Wolves on a night the Raptors won at home in Darko Rajakovic’s inaugural tip as head coach — can’t be used as any excuse.

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Whether the root cause of Toronto’s feeble defence was roster construction or schemes can be debated.

There is no debate of how pathetic the Raptors defended and how much of a focus defence must be once the ball gets tossed this fall.

No one is suggesting the Raptors will be poised to advance to a conference final as it appears the Knicks and especially the T’Wolves are heading, but a defensive identity must somehow be ingrained.

In New York, the star has been Jalen Brunson, who has put together four consecutive 40-point scoring games.

The Knicks’ starting unit doesn’t feature any player drafted higher than the No. 16 slot.

In centre Isaiah Hartenstein, NBA scouts first began to pay attention when he attended the Basketball Without Borders Global Camp during the NBA all-star weekend in Toronto.

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Clearly, the acquisition of OG Anunoby has given head coach Tom Thibodeau the ideal versatile piece any defensive coach would covet.

The one-time Raptor has recorded two steals in the past three games, including a key swipe late in the Knicks’ Game 1 win over the visiting Indiana Pacers on Monday night.

On the same night, Minnesota’s stifling defence was instrumental in beating the reigning champion Nuggets in Denver. During the blowout, Minny forced 19 turnovers and now has won six straight post-season games as it returns home for Games 3 and 4.

“We’ve had some really, really good defensive efforts this year, but that has to be right up there with the best of them,” said T’Wolves head coach Chris Finch said, a one-time assistant in Toronto on Nick Nurse’s staff.

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“On the ball, off the ball, the physicality, the execution of the game plan, just really locked in on defence.”

It helps a team when there’s a defensive anchor. In the case of the T’Wolves, it’s in the form of the Stifle Tower in Rudy Gobert, who missed Monday’s Game 2 win to be present at the birth of his first child.

Jaden McDaniels, whose brother Jalen was acquired by the Raptors last off-season in free agency only to emerge as yet another failed signing by the club, has taken his game to another level.

Toronto native Nickeil Alexander-Walker is another defensive piece Finch is more than willing to activate off the bench.

The T’Wolves are a deep team led by Anthony Edwards, who has shown moments where the Ant-Man evokes memories of Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.

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It helps when players such Brunson and Edwards are making shots and taking games over in big moments.

For each team, though, the calling card involves defence and mental toughness.

There is barely is a bench with the Knicks, a three-man unit — which includes ex-Raptors big Precious Achiuwa — that produced three points and attempted only three shots in Monday’s win over Indy.

Thibodeau has been riding the Villanova Three during New York’s post-season run with absolutely no indication, other than being in foul trouble, he’s about to change.

Offensively, the trio of Brunson, Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzo — teammates at Nova — combined to score 92 of New York’s 121 points Monday night.

Hart played the entire 48 minutes in that contest.

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The Knicks play with this defensive edge where no possession is ever taken for granted.

Big picture, the roster isn’t going to win a title this year and advancing to the Eastern final is far from a slam dunk.

Brunson’s rise to superstardom does open a window, but it’s on defence where the Knicks thrive.

“I just think the way they work, they’ve invested a lot into this season and they put a lot into each and every day,” Thibodeau said following Monday’s win when asked about his team’s mind-set.

“When you make that commitment to each other, you’re not going to give in, you’re going to keep fighting. And that’s the great fight.”

On too many lost nights, the Raptors showed little to no fight, making viewing quite frightful.

Toronto’s off-season of change soon will begin.

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Once Sunday’s NBA draft lottery is completed, the Raptors will know if they have a top-six pick or whether their first-round selection belongs to San Antonio.

Minnesota has two first-overall picks in Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns, while the highest-drafted player among the Knicks’ main rotation — not including injured forward Julius Randle — is DiVincenzo (17th overall).

It’s clear the Raptors are building around Scottie Barnes, who was taken fourth overall three years ago, while hoping Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett — both former Knicks acquired in the deal for Anunoby — will emerge as building blocks to complement him.

Gradey Dick showed signs late in his rookie season that he might turn into something, but he needs to get stronger to be able to defend his position.

Whatever moves the Raptors make this off-season, they’ll have to be able to defend once all the pieces eventually are assembled.

One looks at the Knicks and T’Wolves and it’s easy to see why the Raptors have long way to go before they’re even in the discussion of playoff contenders.

fzicarelli@postmedia.com

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