Entering the new season, the Toronto Raptors emphasized that they will play strong, fast, and aggressive basketball.
Through nine games, this style of play has been a double-edged sword for Toronto. Despite a 2-7 record, the Raptors lead the NBA with 30.6 assists per game and have the eighth-best offense with 118 points per game.
Toronto is also allowing a league-low 124.7 points per game, but has lost five of its last six games by six points or fewer.
Their stifling transition defense has an NBA-best 19.5 turnover frequency ratio, but the Raptors’ offense gives up 16.8 turnovers per game, third-worst in the league.
“We’ve just got to keep playing hard and figure it out,” Mississauga, Ont., swingman RJ Barrett told reporters after the Raptors led after three quarters in Wednesday’s 122-107 loss at Sacramento. They gave up as many as 15 runs in a 121-119 loss at Denver on Monday.
“We are doing the right thing. We have to learn how to sustain it for 48 minutes. “Having a new team with young players is a learning process for all of us.”
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Toronto was forced to rely heavily on rookies and second-year players with All-Star forward Scotty Barnes (fractured orbit) and point guard Emmanuel Quickley (right hip contusion) out. Veteran reserves Kelly Olynyk (lumbar sprain) and Bruce Brown (arthroscopic knee surgery) of Kamloops, B.C., will also be unavailable.
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“The guys in the game are getting used to playing with each other and that will give us a good start when we get Scotty and Quick and everyone back,” sophomore swingman Gradey Dick told reporters after the loss at Denver. “I think we have the mindset that we can’t just be happy that we got this because (coach Darko Rajkovic) came in and said he wasn’t really interested in moral victories.
“But as a team, we need to know that we’re playing well, but ultimately we also need to know how to close out the game.”
A closer look at the Raptors’ numbers paints a complicated picture of who they are this season.
Toronto ranks fourth in the NBA in offensive rebounds with 13.8 per game, but ranks 17th in total boards, averaging 44.2.
Perhaps the most confusing thing is how often Toronto blows the referee’s whistle.
The Raptors are averaging 26.2 fouls per game, the second-worst mark in the league. However, with 20.8 draws, they are tied for 10th place with the Washington Wizards.
The second number would make more sense if Toronto’s forwards were struggling, but they aren’t. The Raptors are scoring 60 points in the paint per game, the second-most in the NBA.
Teams that do a lot around the rim, both scoring and offensive rebounds, should be able to draw more fouls, but they haven’t taken advantage of the call so far this season.
“We’re fouling a lot every night,” Barrett told reporters in Sacramento after Toronto attempted 15 free throws to the Kings’ 32. “We have to try to figure it out and figure out how to play defense without fouling.
“Then on the offensive side, it’s about being strong in the paint and making the right plays.”
The Raptors continue their west coast swing with back-to-back visits to Los Angeles against the Clippers on Saturday and the Lakers on Sunday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 7, 2024.
© 2024 The Canadian Press
