It might sound a bit cheesy, but as the saying goes, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade."
That’s exactly how the Raptors have been able to turn their fortunes around, at least for now. They went from a stretch where most of the fanbase was filled with pessimism due to a four-game losing streak to winning three straight games.
Toronto's somewhat flustered system in that rough stretch gave fans a pretty bleak outlook on the future. While the Raptors' defense is still somewhat muddled, currently sitting at 17th in the league for team defensive rating, the team has been showing that despite needing improvement on that front, they excel in other key advanced statistics. These numbers demonstrate that their unconventional style clearly sets them apart from the rest of the NBA.
Raptors' success (thus far) by the numbers
Currently, the Toronto Raptors rank as the league-leader in assists (at 30.5 per game), as well as first in assist ratio (at 20.8), top five in effective field goal percentage (tied with the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat at 57.5 percent), and ninth in pace (tied with the Cleveland Cavaliers at 102.8).
Critics have voiced their opinions about this version of the Raptors, citing a disjointed roster and questioning their all-in move to acquire Brandon Ingram. Many said it was a huge gamble for Toronto, considering they weren't believed to be an elite Eastern Conference squad. With so much riding on this season — at the very least, making a spirited playoff run — it is a pleasing development to see that, early on, the Raptors are relying on each other to make the right decisions. They are playing a genuinely unselfish style, and having that mantra strongly instilled value up and down the squad will only benefit the team.
As we’ve seen with Brandon Ingram, RJ Barrett, and Scottie Barnes, the early concern about having too many mouths to feed in Toronto isn’t an issue for these guys. They are each getting their shine, and the Raptors are the only team in the NBA to boast a trio of players averaging 20 or more points. And as the top team in assists per game so far, it's great to see that each of the three top scorers are still passing the ball well too. BI is close to four assists per game, Barrett has 3.5 assists, and Barnes is at 5.1.
Immanuel Quickley has been struggling to start off the 2025-26 season. His play has been marked by discouraging displays of tunnel vision and inefficiency on offense. However, at the very least, he's still been recording a decent number of assists, averaging 6.4 at the time of writing. Sophomore guard Jamal Shead has also been a tremendous passer off the bench, averaging 5.4 assists per game.
Put simply, the Raptors are quickly turning what so many believed wouldn't work into must-see TV. It’s a win for those who can truly appreciate it.