Raptors panic meter: Which concerning trends could sink the season?

The overall halfcourt offense

The Raptors rank 24th in the league in offensive rating, but that doesn’t tell the whole story. While Toronto is fourth in the league in points per game in transition and fourth in assists per game, their halfcourt offense is once again near the bottom of the league in terms of points per possession.

The numbers are bad, but there are three main reasons things could turn around. First, Rajakovic’s philosophical tenants of constant ball movement and more 3-point shooting can work brilliantly when appropriately executed, like in the Milwaukee, Dallas, and Detroit victories. The foundation is there.

Will the Toronto Raptors fix their halfcourt offense?

Second, Rajakovic has had to figure out the best way to maximize Barnes, find a role where Siakam can thrive, and work around a lackluster bench he largely inherited while navigating the pitfalls of being a rookie head coach. Building any great offense from the ground up takes time.

Finally, Toronto has had a brutal schedule to begin the season. Six of their first 13 games were against teams with a defensive rating in the top half of the league, and that doesn’t even include contenders like Milwaukee and Dallas. Against teams like Detroit, San Antonio, and Washington, the offense seemed to work.

Panic Meter: Moderate to Low

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