Where do you even begin with the 2024-25 Toronto Raptors squad?
Depending on whom you ask, some might express sheer excitement about the direction the team seems to be heading, which could very well lead them to the top of the 2025 NBA Draft lottery odds. However, not everyone is willing to board the losing train. In fact, some disgruntled fans of the North appear to have reached their limit with their beloved team's mediocrity.
Alas, the world of sports is a realm where everyone is entitled to their own opinions.
Undoubtedly, this year is focused on finding solutions, navigating the challenges of a young, rebuilding core, and experimenting with various coaching strategies. There will undoubtedly be mistakes and subpar results along the way; however, the true hope lies in Toronto's capacity to hold itself accountable for these errors and to use them as a foundation for a brighter future.
Based on the last two and a half months of regular-season basketball, we now have ample data and statistics to conduct a fair evaluation through the eye test, allowing us to assign an appropriate grade.
Spoiler alert: The grades might not be very appealing. However, much like a band-aid, it's likely best to just rip it off and get it over with.
Offense
The Raptors are certainly not an elite offensive team; in fact, they don't even appear to be an average NBA offense. As of this writing, Toronto occupies the 24th position in the entire league for offensive rating, recording 109.9 points per 100 team possessions—a figure that puts them in a tie with the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Raptors generate a significant portion of their offense through 2-point field goals, currently ranking second in the league, just behind the Denver Nuggets, with 63.1% of their overall scoring coming from this area. Of that 63.1%, they are making an impressive 54.7%, which still places them second across the entire NBA. So that's certainly something positive to note.
Here's where things begin to falter a bit. It's evident to any Raptors fan that the team ranks among the worst in the NBA when it comes to 3-point shooting, currently sitting at 29th place with a 3-point field goal attempt percentage of 36.9%. Furthermore, Toronto manages to convert only 31.1% of their 3-point attempts overall, highlighting a significant deficiency in reliable shooters across the roster.
They will need more than just a skilled shooter in Gradey Dick, and recent performances suggest he is in the midst of a shooting slump.
No matter how adept they are at creating an offensive flow near the paint, Raptors fans know it is seldom enough to propel them past teams across the league. And when their 3-point shooting fails to find its rhythm, it’s almost certain that Toronto is headed for a challenging defeat.
Grade: C+
Defense
My oh my, it doesn't get any prettier talking about the Raptors' defense.
What was once a stalwart of the Raptors culture and identity has seemingly fallen off the wagon, despite having a defensive dynamo in Scottie Barnes leading the charge. However, team basketball cannot depend solely on one player to shoulder the defensive burden; that drive must be cultivated among the entire roster as well.
Toronto ranks near the bottom of the NBA’s team defensive ratings, permitting opponents to score 117.8 points per 100 possessions and finishing in 28th place (tied with the Utah Jazz).
When the Toronto Raptors turn the ball over, they allow opposing teams to score an average of 20.3 points, ranking them 25th in the league in this category. Additionally, they give up 15 second-chance points per game, placing them 26th among all NBA teams.
One positive aspect to highlight is Toronto's knack for stealing the ball from their opponents, averaging a team total of 8.0 steals, which places them 19th in the NBA. However, their blocking is less prominent; they average 4.4 blocks per game, ranking them 26th overall.
Simply put, the Raptors' defense often emerges as their biggest weakness in games, occasionally displaying lackadaisical efforts. As RJ Barrett previously stated, there can be "a lack of fight."
Grade: D
Beyond
Examining other aspects of Toronto's season this year, there are potential roster changes, team chemistry, and optimism for a brighter future.
Although all indications suggest that the Toronto Raptors are planning to sell several of their veteran players on the NBA trade market, none of their expendable assets have been traded as of this writing. Therefore, it is difficult to evaluate a situation that has not yet yielded any rewards for the team. However, if they can successfully move their veterans at a reasonable price, it would certainly provide hope to a depleted Raptors fanbase.
Despite the numerous challenges and setbacks they face, the Raptors' team chemistry remains remarkably strong. There appears to be no player drama, and while losing can occasionally take a toll on both the team and the coach, it doesn’t seem to create any rifts in their otherwise robust mutual relationships. You can still sense that this is a young team striving to make ends meet, and when they achieve a victory, the positive vibes fittingly takeover.
Regarding optimism for the future, the Raptors will need the favor of the draft lottery gods if they wish to acquire a significant catalyst that can help expedite their return to playoff contention. Fortunately, Toronto possesses its own draft pick this year, so they won't have to worry about losing it. However, the lottery exists for a reason: it is inherently unpredictable.
Without sounding too much like a "Negative Nancy," there are indeed glimmers of hope that suggest this Raptors squad could soon be turning over a new leaf. Nevertheless, the proverbial stars must still align.
Grade: C