The Toronto Raptors were expected by many to be one of the bottom-feeders in the Eastern Conference due to the roster turnover and tough division, but Nick Nurse has surprised plenty by getting this team off to a 6-5 start with wins over the Knicks and improved Wizards already under their belt.
The Raptors have leaned into their positionless philosophy, building a young team that goes all out on the defensive end and is willing to bang down low on offense. With Pascal Siakam finally back in the fold, this team will start to kick things up a notch when it comes to taking on the best of the best.
The Raptors might be a team unlike any other across the league, and that unusual roster construction has led to a team that is at the top of the NBA in a few specific categories and near the bottom in a few others.
These 3 stats tell a pretty stark tale of how the Toronto Raptors have performed in the first few weeks of the season. This organization has some unique aspects to its game that will define its style and formula for winning games despite what looks like a very difficult schedule ahead.
3 stats that show why the Toronto Raptors are playing well.
3. The Raptors are dominating the offensive boards.
The Raptors were one of the worst rebounding teams in the league last season, as the likes of Aron Baynes just weren’t doing enough to go up against players like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Joel Embiid. Who could’ve imagined that? Toronto is much better in that area this season, especially on the offensive glass.
Toronto is at the very top of the league in offensive rebound rate at 32.2%. Teams that are ranked near them include the Jazz, who are buoyed by an All-Star in Rudy Gobert, and the Heat, who have their own tremendous big man in Bam Adebayo. Scottie Barnes is playing a huge part in this turnaround.
The Toronto Raptors are a much better rebounding team in 2021.
Barnes is averaging just over three offensive rebounds per game by himself, as the combination of his length, leaping ability, and hustle all contribute to his ability to make an impact on the glass. Toronto may lack height, but that hasn’t done much to stop them from crashing the boards.
Even though Precious Achiuwa has become a bit of a controversial figure for his roller-coaster play, he has proven to be solid on the glass. Masai Ujiri identified the lack of a rebounding presence as a major need for this team, and this squad looks much better in this area after the roster was turned over.
2. Khem Birch is secretly becoming an ace bench player.
Birch has become an effective bench player after Achiuwa was promoted to the starting lineup. On a smaller team lacking in traditional big men, Birch provides a refreshing change of pace. His rebounding and defense have made him one of the more underrated bigs in the Eastern Conference.
The Raptors are on average 12.8 points per 100 possessions better when Birch is on the floor. Due to his finishing and screen-setting, Toronto averaged 9.6 points per 100 more on the offensive end. With masterful rebounding skills and interior defense, the Raptors are surrendering 3.2 fewer points per 100 with him on the floor.
Khem Birch is making an impact on the Toronto Raptors.
As a bonus, putting Birch on the floor positively impacts their offensive rebounding rate by 16.2%, the largest such increase for any big man this season. Birch is never going to put up the gaudiest statistical numbers, but he’s making his impact felt on the game due to his rock-solid bench play.
Birch was never used properly in Orlando, and his brief stint with Toronto during their Tampa exile last year was one of the few bright spots during their forced sabbatical. Finally locked up long-term and given a defined role, the native Canadian is quietly putting together a tremendous season.
1. The Raptors are making up for a poor half-court offense.
Toronto is simply not a good half-court offense at the moment. This issue needs to get resolved as soon as possible, as winning games while being ranked 25th in points per play on that end is simply not sustainable. Luckily, the Raptors have quite the short-term fix planned, as Toronto is choosing to overcome this deficiency through speed in transition.
The Raptors rank last in the league in the percentage of possessions end up as half-court sets at an even 75%. To counteract that, this team has risen into the top five in transition opportunities. Why keep banging your head against a wall when you can use your superior athletic ability to get easy buckets on the move?
The Toronto Raptors need to improve their half-court offense.
The Raptors have a ton of 6-8 and 6-9 players like Barnes and standout rookie Dalano Banton that love to push the pace, so why not lean into that and create an utterly unique offensive attack? After disrupting the other end, Toronto has proven they can cash it into points on offense.
This may not be the most conventional, or perhaps sustainable, attack in the world, but as long as Toronto continues to sport an elite defense, they will cause some problems in transition due to how well they run the floor and work as a team.