The Toronto Raptors may not be the most dynamic offensive team in the world, but having the league’s worst half-court offense with 1/3 of the season in the books is simply not an acceptable result. Having that unit despite one of the game’s best offensive players in Pascal Siakam roaming the floor is unacceptable.
Toronto is below .500 at 13-14, with a pair of losses to the Magic and defeats against teams like the Thunder and Pacers on the ledger. With the “easy” part of the schedule over and a gauntlet of potential playoff teams coming up, the struggles could manifest into something more severe.
The Raptors may end up making a huge trade that turns this team around, but that likely won’t come until Masai Ujiri has a more ironed-out vision of what the Raptors should look like. Until that day comes around, they’re stuck with the pieces they have.
This trio of Raptors needs to snap out of whatever malaise they have been in during the last few games in order to finally get on a hot streak. The Raptors have struggled to get out of first gear, but these three hold the keys to finally shifting into a more efficient style.
3 Toronto Raptors who must fix offensive issues.
3. Chris Boucher
While Boucher is having a solid season, averaging 11.4 points and 6.1 rebounds per game, he’s been in a bit of a cold spell in the last few weeks. Toronto’s win against the Lakers was the only game in the last eight where he’s hit over 50% of his shots and scored at least 10 points.
With Precious Achiuwa still sidelined for a very long time, Nurse has continued to lean on Boucher as the one bench player that this team can rely on. While the starters are at fault for their poor performance in half-court sets, Boucher can be one way the Raptors can guard against regression.
Chris Boucher needs to boost the Toronto Raptors.
At his best, Boucher is one of the best bench bigs in the game. A terrific offensive rebounder who fits Toronto’s scheme frighteningly well, Boucher does a lot of things well when his energy is able to shine through. When he’s not making shots inside, that energy isn’t nearly as impactful.
With Achiuwa nowhere close to a return, Thad Young moving between playing 35 minutes as a starter and barely playing at all, and Otto Porter Jr. picking up another injury, Boucher is the last bastion of consistency on this bench. Boucher is capable of starring, as he averaged 18 points and 10.3 rebounds between the OKC loss and Dallas win.
2. Scottie Barnes
After an inconsistent start, Barnes appeared to have turned a corner. Between December 2 and December 7, Barnes averaged 17.0 points and 11.8 rebounds per game while tying his career-best rebound mark with 17 in a win against the Lakers. For some reason, Barnes just couldn’t score against the Magic in Orlando.
Barnes scored just 17 total points in the two road losses despite being on the floor for heavy minutes in those games. Just when it looked like he got his efficiency issues sorted out, Barnes made just six of his 20 shots. Now we’re back to square one, ahead of a very difficult stretch. Is he going to take this in stride and improve?
Scottie Barnes must be more consistent for the Toronto Raptors.
Let’s put on the rose-colored glasses and be optimistic for a second. Barnes is still a developing player, and Orlando’s length can be problematic for even a veteran-laden roster. Perhaps a more favorable matchup, which he got against the Lakers, could get him back on track.
Barnes is not performing as poorly as social media would have you think. In fact, the Raptors are better when he’s on the floor. However, the inconsistent scoring and 3-10 nights with 38 minutes on the floor need to stop. the next few games are a great chance to turn things around.
1. Fred VanVleet
While this may seem like piling on, the Raptors simply need more out of VanVleet if they want to escape the hole they have dug for themselves. When VanVleet can’t lead this team to wins against the Magic, that should be enough to set off alarms in Toronto.
VanVleet’s scoring has increased, as he’s put up 19 points in three straight games, but his efficiency remains below average. A November 11 loss to Oklahoma City was the last time he shot over 40% in a game. Toronto’s half-court struggles are due, in large part, to his ineffectiveness. Fred is fed up with this play.
Fred VanVleet must help turn the Toronto Raptors around.
Is VanVleet going to overcome this? In all likelihood, yes. An All-Star guard who has missed out on the All-Defensive team by the skin of his teeth multiple times is not going to shoot 36% all year long. However, the Raptors can’t just keep running the same vanilla scheme and hoping things magically get fixed.
The Raptors were carried by VanVleet when Siakam was inactive last year, and the Raptors are begging for that player to return in the team’s hour of need. If he does, Toronto might be able to dust themselves off and actually make a hearty postseason charge.