Several reasons could explain why the Toronto Raptors are mediocre to this point of the season. They lost last night to the Milwaukee Bucks, who are third in the Eastern Conference, 115-108. The Raptors need to leapfrog the New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls, and Orlando Magic in the standings to be considered a playoff team, which is looking less likely by the day.
We have heard the cries that Pascal Siakam may have hit his potential ceiling and is not a superstar compared to former Raptor Kawhi Leonard. There may be some truth to the matter, but it ignores that four starters (Danny Green, Serge Ibaka, Marc Gasol, and Leonard) have been purged from this team in two years, putting the offensive pressure on the fifth-year power forward.
The Raptors frontcourt is in disarray with the team waiving Alex Len, who now plays for the Washington Wizards. Aron Baynes, also signed this past off-season, has been disappointing playing the center position.
The team is weaker this season than last in several statistical categories, like points in the paint at 40 per game vs. 45.9 a year ago. Perhaps the biggest concern statistically is the Raptors average just 110.5 points a game, when they produced 112.3 per game in 2020.
Generally, the team has flaws and concerns that need to be addressed, and this is a profile of three issues impacting the Toronto Raptors’ success in 2021, as their issues go beyond the box score.
After seven years, two Eastern Conference Finals appearances, and an NBA title, the question is, what’s wrong with the Toronto Raptors?
The Toronto Raptors roster is filled with projects
One major issue that gets ignored in discussing what is wrong with the Raptors in 2021 is the fact there are several players still trying to develop into NBA regulars on the roster.
For a franchise that has tasted consistent and exceptional success over the past seven years, this year’s edition of the roster is the antithesis of a championship team. The core group of players that helped win the 2019 NBA title is still on the team, but the supporting cast reads more like an expansion team or a franchise trying to develop talent.
The Toronto franchise does this better than anyone, but there are easily eight players on this roster who are in developmental phases of their career.
Chris Boucher is having a breakout season averaging more than twice as many points as he did last year. However, there was no guarantee that the Canadian center will become a star, even though he has been an improving role player in the previous two seasons.
In his second year, Matt Thomas has not been a consistent or significant contributor to the team. He has had his moments, but this season, he has played in eight games and is averaging 3.8 points a game. He’s a member of a group of young talent, including rookies Malachi Flynn, Jalen Harris, and Paul Watson who play less than 10 minutes a game before Wednesday night’s game against the Bucks.
Stanley Johnson was in the dog house all season long in 2020 with a significant number of “DNP-coach’s decision,” yet suddenly he is playing 16.3 minutes a game by necessity.
Aaron Rose of si.com recently wrote after the Raptors lost to the big lineup of the Philadelphia 76ers:
"Considering how little Johnson played last season the decision was pretty shocking. Discounting the Raptors’ last few meaningless regular season games last season, Johnson played in just 22 games and averaged just 4.6 minutes. He was one of the bigger disappointments on the team, coming over from New Orleans on a two-year deal in free agency."
Originally drafted by Detroit and traded to New Orleans, Johnson’s rookie contract expired without the Pelicans’ extending the deal. Considering he has been unimpressive in a five-year career and this being his sixth season and a contract year, it’s reasonable to question whether Johnson’s sudden stretch of good play is sustainable.
Finally, Yuta Wantanabe, who has also been in the rotation playing in 11 games and averaging 2.4 points a game, is only in his third year. Watanabe played in just 18 games last year for Memphis; this means he could shatter his games per season record now with Toronto this season.
While he has been useful on the court in several ways, it’s troubling that Watanabe’s field goal percentage is 25.8, even though his three-point average of 37.5 is about 12 percent higher. It suggests he is a one-dimensional offensive option, and there are too many of these types of players on the Raptors’ roster this year.