Winning a championship takes more than just having the best player in the court. It takes mental fortitude, a never-say-die attitude, and a commanding defense. Even for all their offensive ingenuity over the last half-decade, the Golden State Warriors were still able to lean on an impressive defense, led by Draymond Green. Last season, it was the Toronto Raptors time to shine.
Proven by the numbers, the Raptors had a top-five defense in the NBA last season – by net rating at least. The Milwaukee Bucks, who won the most games in the regular season, had the best defense in the NBA, followed by the Utah Jazz, Indiana Pacers, and Oklahoma City Thunder before the Raptors rounded out the top five.