10 things: Raptors finish 2022 on a high note, what does that mean for 2023?

Here are 10 takeaways from the Toronto Raptors' 113-104 win over the Phoenix Suns.

1. The Raptors concluded 2022 with a gritty win over the Suns. It has been a difficult month for the Raptors, who had abandoned their defensive identity and slid to 29th in defensive rating over their last ten games, but they managed to rediscover themselves to finish on a high.

It was more difficult than it needed to be against a Suns side without Devin Booker and several key role players, and it looked shaky when the Suns took the lead late, but the Raptors finished strong through a total team effort that featured several unlikely contributors.

2. Nick Nurse laid into the team after its latest loss, calling the lack of effort against Memphis "unacceptable" and then proceeded to show a lowlight reel. Nurse was the only one to speak in the 20-minute dress down of the team, and the challenge was issued. Would the Raptors commit to the defensive end, or would they continue to flounder?

The Raptors responded strongly with one of their best showings of the season, forcing 25 turnovers out of Phoenix — doubling their average on the season — while holding the Suns to just 104 points despite 48 per cent shooting from three, which largely came from their role players.

Toronto's plethora of athletic wings put their talents to good use by constantly pressuring the ball, while seamlessly switching assignments to neutralize Phoenix's go-to plays. This is the type of effort and togetherness on defence that is needed every night for the Raptors to stay competitive.

3. Toronto's defence was so locked in that the most experienced point guard in the league committed six turnovers, including an eight-second violation late in the fourth. Chris Paul was clearly the main threat, and Nurse's solution was to have Scottie Barnes pressure him the entire game. Barnes committed himself fully to the challenge and used his length to force Paul into longer passes and to contest his lethal midrange jumper.

The other benefit of having Barnes on Paul is that the Raptors were able to switch the pick-and-roll with Deandre Ayton, which limited dribble penetration and cut off supply to Phoenix's franchise centre, who finished with a measly four points on 10 attempts.

4. Gary Trent Jr. stepped up as the secondary scorer that the Raptors so badly needed. Trent Jr. was unstoppable in the third quarter with 18 points and two four-point plays, and finished strong by nailing a heavily contested turnaround shot that kept the Raptors ahead down the stretch.

Trent Jr. was reinserted into the starting lineup and paired well with Pascal Siakam as an outlet at the top of the floor to knock down threes when Siakam beat his man and drew help. Trent Jr. then continued to do damage on his own, largely through using ball screens to get into the midrange, where he was able to catch the Suns backpedalling for space on his shot. Trent Jr. also competed on the defensive end for three steals and a block, which directly led to several transition baskets.

5. Siakam was excellent as usual despite facing another wall of physical wing defenders. Phoenix had three gritty stoppers in Mikal Bridges, Torey Craig, and Ish Wainwright to pressure Siakam at all times, and they played zone for large stretches of the game to further build the wall between Siakam and the basket. Despite the added attention, Siakam was consistently able to generate offence by breaking past his assignment, and either drawing the help defender which led to kick-out threes, or by beating the help to the spot and stretching all the way to the rim.

The Raptors forcing 25 turnovers also made life easier for Siakam, who always feasts in transition. For his efforts, Siakam heard MVP chants for the first time this season as he went to the line 10 times.

6. Trent Jr. and Siakam continue to pair well on offence. Siakam is consistently able to break the first line of defence and get into the middle of the floor, where he often draws help from the wing. The easy play there is the kick-out to the shooter, but the Raptors have sorely lacked consistent shooting at the top of the floor.

Trent Jr. thrives on those exact chances, where he can attack a closeout with an assortment of moves, such as the side-step or stepback jumper, the up fake and then stepping into the space for the midrange, or simply catching and shooting without hesitation. It helps to maximize both players to have them on the floor together.

7. O.G. Anunoby could have been the third option to bridge that gap, but he was saddled with foul trouble all night. Anunoby thought he had an and-one chance in the third quarter, but the Suns successfully challenged and flipped it into Anunoby's fifth foul, which nailed him to the bench until late in the fourth.

When he was out there, Anunoby was disruptive defensively, nailed catch-and-shoot threes, and provided excellent defensive versatility toggling between guarding the perimeter while also being able to bang with Ayton in the paint.

8. Without Anunoby and Trent Jr. to begin the fourth quarter, Nurse turned to Jeff Dowtin Jr. for a short shift. The goal was always to buy enough time before his starters could return, but it also showed trust in what Dowtin Jr. has provided in limited run.

He was pesky on defence and collected a steal for a breakaway layup, and also made a timely cut off a surprisingly deft feed from Chris Boucher out of the high post, which then set up Thad Young on the finish. Dowtin Jr. has only seen a handful of meaningful minutes this season, but Nurse has already identified him as a reliable defensive contributor which is the easiest way to break into the rotation. The next step would be for Dowtin Jr. to be more aggressive with his offence, including taking the open threes.

9. Another surprise contributor was Christian Koloko. He was solid throughout, although it was never a guarantee that he would finish the game, but Nurse showed faith in the rookie who delivered.

Koloko nailed his first career triple off a drive-and-dish in the corner from Trent Jr. which made it a six-point game with two minutes left, and then collected two loose ball fouls to maintain possession down the stretch. Koloko has been consistently working on corner threes after practices and has shown good results in a practice setting, and so the next step was to translate it in-game. The fact that Koloko shot it with confidence speaks is encouraging and reaffirming.

10. The win doesn't change who the Raptors are, just as they aren't defined by their recent losses. Toronto is like half the league in that they have enough talent to compete, but their consistency isn't there. When the Raptors fully commit to defence, they can be a good team that should challenge for a playoff spot.

But, because their offence is simply too limited due to a lack of talent, they can look really bad when their defence isn't set.

The challenge for this team in the coming weeks in 2023 is to consistently deliver defensive intensity regardless of the situation. If they can lock in on the second night of a back-to-back over the holidays without three rotation players, then there's no excuse for it to be absent for weeks at a time.

The front office may very well decide to pivot and redesign the team for the future, but until February the Raptors can also chart their own course by coming together as a team, and it all starts on defence.