It’s no secret that the Raptors struggle to make 3-pointers. They rank 25th in 3-point percentage, converting 34.6% of their 33 attempts per game. The only player on the team who is shooting over 38% for the season is Jamison Battle, but he only averages 1.4 attempts per game.
The Raptors’ lack of 3-point shooting could cause an early end to their first playoff run with their core of Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram, Immanuel Quickley, and RJ Barrett. In the last four years, teams that struggled to make threes in the regular season didn’t find much success in the playoffs.
3-point shooting tends to factor into playoff success
Last year, only three teams that finished the regular season in the bottom half when it comes to 3-point percentage made the playoffs. Out of those three, only one—the Magic—finished with a worse shooting percentage than what the Raptors are shooting right now, and only one won its first-round matchup. The Warriors, who finished 16th in 3-point percentage, moved on to the next round, but they faced the Rockets, who were an even worse 3-point shooting team in the regular season.
The year before only two teams that finished the regular season 16th or worse in 3-point percentage made the playoffs. Neither won their first-round matchup, although the 76ers actually shot pretty well from long range compared to their regular-season averages.
Five of the worst fifteen 3-point shooting teams made the playoffs in 2023 and 2022 each. In 2023, the Lakers, Heat, and Knicks all won their first-round series, and the year prior, the Mavericks and Grizzlies did the same.
All in all, only 15 of the 64 teams that made the playoffs in the last four years finished the regular season in the bottom 15 in 3-point percentage. Only five of those teams shot the three as badly as the Raptors currently are. Out of those five teams, only two won their first-round series—the Lakers and Heat in 2023.
The Raptors will have to find another way to win
While some players on the Raptors’ roster can have big 3-point shooting games every once in a while, this team won’t suddenly turn into a consistently good team from behind the arc. So, like during the regular season, the Raptors will have to find other ways to win in the playoffs.
Defense is one good way to do that, and the Raptors are a solid defensive team. Dominating the rebounding battle also helps, as it allows you to end opponents’ possessions early and get second chances for yourselves.