Jalen Brunson And KAT Cook Undermanned Raptors | Full Film Room Analysis

·14 min·1 clip

The Raptors lose to another good team despite an incredible Brandon Ingram performance, exposing their defensive lapses.

The episode begins with the host, Samson Folk, apologizing for missing a previous game due to illness and personal circumstances as an Iranian. He immediately dives into analyzing the Raptors' loss to the Knicks, pointing out defensive lapses like botched switches and poor timing in guard-guard screens. Folk emphasizes that the Raptors' defense is the primary issue against top teams, despite having a top-15 offense overall. He provides statistics: the Raptors are 4-16 against top 10 teams, with a 25th-ranked offense and 10th-ranked defense in those matchups. Folk argues that the roster lacks consistent three-point shooting and relies too much on transition play, which good teams can shut down. He identifies specific defensive liabilities like RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, and Jamal Shead being targeted in mismatches. The host then shifts to offensive analysis, praising Jakob Poeltl's screening ability and its impact on Brandon Ingram, who scored 31 points. Folk breaks down film examples showing how Poeltl's screens create mid-range opportunities for Ingram and open shots for others like Quickley. He suggests the Raptors should leverage the Ingram-Poeltl duo more, especially in clutch situations. Folk compares the current team to the 2013-2014 Raptors, noting similar records against top teams and success against weaker opponents. He reflects on that era's six-season window but argues modern NBA rules, like the second apron and new CBA, shorten contention timelines to about three seasons. Folk concludes optimistically, stating the Raptors can build on this season if they identify core players and make offseason moves, despite a tougher Eastern Conference ahead.

As heard by us

A possession-by-possession case for how Yakup Hurdle's screening helps unlock Brandon Ingram and Quickley.

Toronto's loss to another good team becomes a tidy film-room question: how much of Brandon Ingram's 31-point night was built by the actions around him?

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You want the film-room reason Brandon Ingram hit 26 first-half points? Start with Yakup Hurdle's screens and the little pockets of daylight they opened.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Pull Up Tre