Raptors biggest weakness is lack of deep shooting

The Raptors are indisputably better defensively with their latest additions on board. However, the offense is like to struggle.

While I’m not backing off my contention that Masai Ujiri’s masterful additions to the Toronto Raptors roster will help the team, there’s little doubt a new problem has been created. The trade of Terrence Ross leaves the team with a serious lack of 3-point shooting.

This issue will be greatly exacerbated by the sudden absence of Kyle Lowry due to a wrist injury. In the past week, the Raptors have lost their two most prolific 3-ball scorers. Lowry was hitting the long ball at a 41.7% rate, good for 3.3 makes a game; Ross’s numbers were 37.5% and 1.8. For those of you scoring at home, that’s 5.1 (or 15 points) 3-balls per game [PG]  gone, which is much more than an ouch.

Making up such a deficit will require a number of discrete steps.

Help wanted!

For all his positives, DeMar DeRozan still hasn’t figured out how to stretch his jump shot to beyond the arc. He ranks 95th in percentage among shooting guards with 25.6 on 3-ball tries, among such luminaries as Evan Turner and Jeremy Lamb. Both of those disappointing players have more attempts than our guy. Our coaches need to find ways to get DD more open looks in the corner. If Norman Powell can finish more consistently at the rim, he’ll be enough of a threat when driving to attract defenders. That in turn should provide chances to pass to an uncovered DD. Whether Norman and DeMar should be on the floor together is another matter.

We can expect Serge Ibaka to get more opportunities for elbow 3s. I’m not worried about him.

I noted some chatter from extreme optimists to the effect that P.J. Tucker is a 3-ball threat. While his 34.3% success rate isn’t terrible by any means, his few number of attempts works out to 0.8 makes PG. That doesn’t move the needle.

Veterans need to step up

DeMarre Carroll hasn’t enjoyed a great time from beyond the arc. His rate is down from 39% last season to 35.2 this. That said, he’s another one who needs to be presented with 2 additional quality shot opportunities PG.

Patrick Patterson is back on the court, and looks healthy. He’s going to help when he’s got his sea legs back.

The aforementioned Mr. Powell has a chance to increase his effectiveness with TRoss’s departure, and hitting more 3s would certainly help his cause. However, we need to be cognizant of the difficulties smaller players endure with the 3-ball. It’s a shot that takes a long time to set up for, and there’s a reason you see little guys searching frantically to find a pass receiver when they have already left their feet. Shot blockers feast on short people.

Norman is in the NBA for many reasons, not the least of which is his horizontal quickness. He’s vertically quick too, which doesn’t help him that much; he’s still 6’3″ tall on tiptoes and in shoes. He certainly has the potential to ramp up his long-ball shooting – whether he actually will remains to be seen.

Finally, we could take a flyer on Brady Heslip from the D-League affiliate. He attempts 8.4 long balls PG, and makes 3.6, which is a 43% success rate. If our team suffers another injury to a rotation player, this option might not be so crazy. Throw him during the fourth quarter of a blowout – why not?

Any other ideas, Rapture Nation? Share them in the Comments.

all stats courtesy of http://stats.nba.com/ & http://www.espn.com/nba/statistics