As a defensive team, the Raptors are far from perfect. But they feel as if they're getting better.
And when you're starting off as one of the statistically bad teams in the NBA, any small incremental improvement is welcome. Jermaine O'Neal, the veteran center who returned from a two-game injury absence to face the Lakers on Sunday at Los Angeles, has seen improvement watching from the sidelines.
"Really, I think guys were just getting a little embarrassed," O'Neal said. "I don't want to be premature and say we're over the hump, but the guys are really taking the challenge. You see guys are looking at the scouting reports a lot more before games, and that's the great character of our team.
"Obviously, we know we've been getting killed on the defensive part of the floor. Now guys are talking more about it even in general conversation among players, not necessarily only in meetings. That's a good sign."
Toronto's defensive failings are mainly because of a lack of athleticism and quickness at the wing positions.
The likes of Jose Calderon, Anthony Parker and Jason Kapono are anything but lightning-quick defenders, a fact that puts undue pressure on the big men guarding the paint.
But the Raptors are finding that when they funnel opponents to the help that awaits, they can hide their individual weaknesses.
It has allowed them to do things like hold nine opponents to less than 45 percent shooting from the field, and they've won eight of those games.
LAKERS 112, RAPTORS 99: The Raptors have had difficulty all season keeping up with teams that want to run, and the Lakers exposed that flaw in Toronto's game repeatedly. The Lakers had at least six run-outs for layups and dunks as the Raptors were easily beaten down the court.
When Toronto got within eight with about seven minutes to go, the Lakers got about three quick, easy baskets to give themselves some breathing room, and when they stretched the lead to 19 with just over five minutes to go, the Raptors waved the proverbial white towel by giving Chris Bosh and the rest of the starters the rest of the night off.
Bosh, who had been playing so well, had an off night, finishing with just 12 points and six assists as Toronto was led by 19 points from Anthony Parker. Andrea Bargnani had 14 points and 11 rebounds, and Jose Calderon had 12 points and 12 assists.
