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Four interesting stats from the Toronto Raptors’ season so far

By Thomas Valentine

TORONTO, ON - February 10 In the first half, Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) comes across some heavy Raptors defence.The Toronto Raptors took on the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Scotiabank arena in NBA basketball action.February 10, 2020 (Richard Lautens/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - February 10 In the first half, Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) comes across some heavy Raptors defence.The Toronto Raptors took on the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Scotiabank arena in NBA basketball action.February 10, 2020 (Richard Lautens/Toronto Star via Getty Images) /
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Toronto Raptors – Norman Powell (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Three-Point Efficiency

This is the way of the league, now: the three-point era. Teams are taking and making, more three-pointers than ever before now. 10 years ago, the league-average for three-pointers per game was 18. In the 2019-20 NBA season, teams are attempting an average of 33.8 three-pointers per game.

While the volume of shots has steadily increased over the past 10 years, the percentage of shots going down has trended pretty much around an average of 35-percent or there or thereabouts. That’s a testament to teams adapting to a new wave of basketball. Adapt or perish, I’m sure that’s the saying.

This season, the Toronto Raptors have been one of the best three-point shooting teams in the NBA, sitting in seventh in three-point attempts per game at third in percentage at 37.8, behind only the Miami Heat and Utah Jazz.

Not counting Shamorie Ponds, who only played four games for the Toronto Raptors, nine players shoot above the league average on three-pointers. They are:

  • Matt Thomas (48-percent, 2.3 3PA)
  • Terence Davis (43-percent, 3.3 3PA)
  • Marc Gasol (40-percent, 3.5 3PA)
  • Norman Powell (40-percent, 5.1 3PA)
  • Serge Ibaka (40-percent, 2.9 3PA)
  • Fred VanVleet (40-percent, 6.9 3PA)
  • OG Anunoby (38-percent, 3.4 3PA)
  • Patrick McCaw (38-percent, 1.9 3PA)
  • Pascal Siakam (37-percent, 5.9 3PA)

Nine players! That’s a whole rotation of players who can shoot the three-ball, and sub out McCaw for Kyle Lowry, and that’s a lineup right there.

The only notable players who miss out on the list are Lowry, who is just three-tenths of a percentage behind the league average while hoisting 8.1 triples a game, and Chris Boucher, who also shows no fear when launching a three.

The lack of fear extends to the whole team too, and in the biggest moments of the game. The Raptors are shooting 37-percent from three in clutch time this season, the eighth-best mark in the NBA.

Hopefully, this can all translate to the postseason.

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