Offensive projections
There are two different fronts to begin with here. First of all, the Raptors averaged 114.8 points per game, which ranked as the ninth-best in the preseason, shooting 44-percent from the field and 38.6-percent from three.
Decent all-around numbers, but the Raptors ranked in the middle of the pack in offensive rating. They did, however, rank second in pace with an 18.9-percent turnover percentage. This offense is difficult to figure out – there have been moments where they’ve played nice free-flowing basketball, and moments where they have looked rigid and slow.
This right here, this is beautiful. pic.twitter.com/kTB6RoBHfL
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) October 18, 2019
Like the tweet says; that right there is beautiful. It’s Raptors basketball at it’s best, the ball movement is exquisite, and Marc Gasol and Kyle Lowry both show off their high basketball-IQ, and it ends with an open three-pointer: perfect.
That came in the Raptors final preseason game against the Brooklyn Nets – who they ran off the court 123-107. The Nets will be right in the same position as the Raptors this season – two teams who are both battling for homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs. The Raptors were the superior team in their final preseason game, but it should be taken with a pinch of salt – the Raptors shot 51-percent from three and exploded in a 46-point second quarter.
There will be moments where the offense plays lights out, but a top-10 offense it probably will not be.