"Yes, the defense is, in fact, messy - but for all the wrong reasons. When I say messy, I mean that nobody on the squad seems to know where to be in the correct defensive position. There also appears to be a scheme in place that forces doubles, even when they aren't needed in the first place. As the pressure ramps up full court, it's clear that this approach is backfiring because Toronto simply lacks the point-of-attack and backline defense to compensate."
"I myself got a sense of what the Toronto Raptors aim to establish on that end of the floor at a recent coaches' open house event. Rewinding to what I heard from defensive strategist and assistant coach Pat Delany during his session - like " How do you make defense messy?" - and the team's emphasis on adopting a " cobra mentality" rather than a " woodpecker mentality," because a quality defender works with patience and waits for the right moment to strike."
Pat Delany promoted making defense 'messy' with a 'cobra mentality' that prizes patience and timed strikes over constant aggression. Four games into the 2025-26 season the Raptors sit on a three-game losing streak and display a defense that has collapsed. Players frequently occupy incorrect positions and a scheme appears to force unnecessary doubles. Increasing full-court pressure has backfired because the team lacks reliable point-of-attack and backline defenders. The Rajakovic-era identity feels volatile and contradictory, with dominant moments and postgame celebrations quickly followed by games that reveal little synergy or coherent defensive structure.
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