Toronto Raptors: Which stats are sustainable after five games?

Fast break points

Stat: 20 fast break points per game (2nd in the NBA)

The Raptors can make a name for themselves as a cut-throat team in transition, they did as much last season. Having someone, like Kyle Lowry, who can distribute the ball in transition to someone who can get down the court, like Pascal Siakam is always a bonus, and last season the Raptors were in the top-4 for fast break points per game.

That gives us a good indication that it could happen again, and a lot of that is down to Nick Nurse and the way the Raptors play. Nurse was the pioneer behind the Raptors change to a more fluid, fast-paced style of basketball, and ditching a heavy isolation style of play that was adopted by Dwane Casey.

It’s a style of play that brings success too. The Raptors have consistently been one of the most successful teams in the NBA over the last five years, and their playing style fits into the trend of the league at the moment.

The Raptors don’t send a lot of players to crash the boards, which contributes to why the rate they give up offensive rebounds is higher than the league average and has been a problem so far this season, but there’s a method to the madness, and the gameplan likely won’t change.

Keep doing what brought you to the big dance, folks. The Raptors are too good in transition for this to become unsustainable.

VERDICT: SUSTAINABLE