Toronto Raptors: 100 most important facts before the season starts

Marc Gasol

1. Marc Gasol ranked fourth in the NBA in defensive PIPM last season (an on/off metric designed to measure overall impact), finishing between Rudy Gobert and Draymond Green… pretty good company to be with.

2. The Raptors were 19.4 points per 100 possessions better with Marc Gasol on the court last season compared to when he was off it. That ranked in the 99th percentile among all players.

3. Raptors AST% before Marc Gasol trade ranked 22nd in the NBA. After the trade they ranked 3rd.

4. In the history of FIBA and the NBA, there has only been two dual-champions Lamar Odom in 2010 and Marc Gasol.

5. Raptors scored an additional 14.5 points per 100 possessions with Gasol on the court. Their effective field goal percentage went up 7%. Both ranked in the 99th percentile among all players.

6. In the past 10 years, Gasol is the only player seven feet or taller who’s averaged 7 assists or more with less than 3.5 turnovers per 36 minutes.

Pascal Siakam

7. Siakam has increased his points per 36 minutes every season he’s been in the NBA; he’s also increased his TrueShooting percentage every season he’s been in the NBA.

8. Everyone has focused on Pascal Siakam’s 3-point shooting (and for good reason). However, his FT% also increased from 60-percent to 78.5-percent last season. An 18.5-percent jump in FT% on that type of volume is incredibly unusual. That increased him from the 12th percentile among all big men to the 71st percentile.

9. Last year, Siakam shot an above-average 37-percent from behind the arc. A closer look at the numbers reveals that’s not quite as impressive as at first glance.

10. 98-percent of his 3s came on catch-and-shoot looks, historically a much easier look than off the dribble.

11. 79-percent of his looks were labeled by NBA.com as “Wide Open”, with no defender within six feet.

10. Siakam shot just 27-percent on above-the-break 3s, as most of his looks came from the shorter, easier corner spot on the court.

11. Last year, Siakam dabbled as the pick-and-roll initiator, averaging just under one attempt per game. In those plays he was absurdly efficient, ranking the 96.7 percentile among all players.

12. Siakam averaged just under two post-ups per game. He ranked in the top 81.9 percentile among all players in those plays.