How the Toronto Raptors Can Stop (Or Slow Down) LeBron James

Let’s be clear: No single player can stop LeBron James. Even after 13 seasons, waves of defenders are required to keep the four-time MVP in check.

The Detroit Pistons and Atlanta Hawks failed to mitigate James’ impact in the first and second rounds of the Eastern Conference playoffs, respectively. And now the Toronto Raptors assume the unenviable, often impossible task of corralling James.

But if anyone can devise a plan to fluster James, it’s Raptors head coach Dwane Casey. Casey was Rick Carlisle’s defensive coordinator during the 2011 Finals, when the Dallas Mavericks memorably defeated James’ Miami Heat. James averaged just 17.8 points in the six games, third-most on the Heat, and Casey was hired by the Raptors shortly after.

Toronto is smart enough to realize James can’t be stopped completely, but there is a blueprint to limiting the damage.

The Right Personnel

Toronto doesn’t possess a Kawhi Leonard or Jimmy Butler, an elite athlete who matches up favorably with size, strength and length to combat James.

But they do have a few “by committee” options.

The primary assignment will fall on DeMarre Carroll, the Raptors’ starting small forward and 2015 free-agent prize. Although he was only healthy for one of the three meetings between the two teams in the regular season, the pair have a history.

Carroll had the honor of chasing James around in the Eastern Conference Finals a year ago, while the former was still a member of the Atlanta Hawks. At 6’8″ and 212 pounds, he has the size to contest jumpers and defend the perimeter but won’t be able to handle James in the post.

Over the first two rounds, Carroll was asked to cover players like Paul George, Joe Johnson and Dwyane Wade at times—a good warm-up for this even greater challenge.

Beyond Carroll, the Raptors can attempt to counter James with 6’7″ DeMar DeRozan and the seldom-used 6’9″ James Johnson. While DeRozan is athletic enough to stay in front of James, he struggled against Indiana, and Toronto would likely prefer to save his energy for the offensive end.

Johnson is the wild card here. Although out of the rotation for months, at 250 pounds he matches James’ size better than anyone on the roster and held opponents to just 42.2 percent shooting during the regular season, per …

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