If you come into the Raptors’ neighbourhood, be prepared to lose something round, orange and valuable. The Raptors’ ability to steal the basketball comes is getting noticed around the league.
The Toronto Raptors have built a disruptive defensive system around creating steals and forced turnovers, relying on techniques and terminology like "cobra," "shark," and "eagle." Through eight games this season, head coach Darko Rajakovic's squad is averaging 11.5 steals per game to rank third in the NBA, while leading the league overall with 20.1 forced turnovers per game.
Installed largely by assistant coach Ivo Simovic, the high-pressure approach has turned Toronto into one of the league's top fast-break teams behind contributors like Scottie Barnes, Jamal Shead, Ja'Kobe Walter, and Collin Murray-Boyles. However, the aggressive scheme has drawn criticism from opposing coaches such as JJ Redick, as the Raptors also lead the league with 27.3 personal fouls per game.
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