Raptors Rapture
Fansided

3 X-factors that will determine if Raptors can make a playoff push

By Jason Mills

TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 5: Fred VanVleet #23, Precious Achiuwa #5, Dalano Banton #45, Chris Boucher #25, and Pascal Siakam #43 of the Toronto Raptors (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 5: Fred VanVleet #23, Precious Achiuwa #5, Dalano Banton #45, Chris Boucher #25, and Pascal Siakam #43 of the Toronto Raptors (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 3
Next
Toronto Raptors odds
TAMPA, FLORIDA – APRIL 18: Gary Trent Jr. #33 of the Toronto Raptors (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images) /

1. Offensive consistency.

Offensive consistency is a big issue at the moment for the Raptors. Averaging 104.9 points per game, they are 24th overall in the league. Their percentage on two-point field goals is 49%, which is 27th in the NBA.

In recent games, the problem has popped up from quarter to quarter. They were outscored Wednesday night by the Thunder in the third quarter 33-12, erasing a 10 point first-half lead that Toronto held.

In their 98-91 loss last Tuesday to the Grizzlies, it was a poor offensive showing in the first quarter when the Grizzlies jumped out to a 27-18 lead after one quarter. There are multiple examples of this offensive burnout in recent games.

Nick Nurse pointed out the obvious after that Memphis game:

"“We weren’t ready to go in Memphis,” said Raptors coach Nick Nurse. “It took us all the way until halftime to get ready to go in Memphis.”"

Certain players have put up good numbers to this point of the season like Fred VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr. However, they do need help. It’s not coming from the bench at the moment and unless trades are made someone on the roster needs to step up.

The Toronto Raptors need to be more reliable on offense.

The Raptors’ offense comes in spurts and disappears as dramatically. Points in the paint represent a large block of any team’s scoring on a nightly basis. While a team like Memphis tops the NBA at 54.1 points per game, Toronto clocks in at 20th.

It’s great that rookie Barnes has upped his three-point field goal average to 34.7% and is 48.8% overall. However, this is not going to patch up all of those holes. When healthy, Achiuwa needs to lift both his overall average and his three-point percentage. Boucher, at 17.9% from deep, needs to start attacking the basket more.

Should the Raptors improve these issues, they could find themselves in the conversation for a playoff birth. If they are unable to get better or end up regressing, then the draft lottery will be the buzz around this team’s offseason.

Next. Free agency: 3 centers to consider. dark

Home/Raptors News