Toronto’s slow start through 11 games is cause for concern. While the considerable drop-off of talent at centre is glaringly obvious, another big concern is the team’s inability to play complete games. Routinely this season Toronto has built and lost double-digit leads that past iterations of the team would have maintained or extended. The roster is guard heavy, and with the minutes Fred VanVleet and Kyle Lowry play — both of whom are undersized for their positions — it’s difficult to give meaningful minutes to anyone who isn’t a forward.
I floated the idea of the Yuta/Stanley dynamic resembling some of Pascal/OG on defense with one being burly, another being lanky, and both being able to switch.