Aside from Toronto’s shaky depth and severely lagging half-court offense, free throws are another part of the game that can have me biting my nails.
Now, I know what you’re probably thinking: “Amos, why are you writing about this after the Raptors turned up their free-throw game in the fourth quarter to seal a comeback win over the Clippers?”
And yes, I have to tip my cap to the guys for fighting their way to the dub in a game I honestly thought was out of reach, even if the margin seemed to hover around 10 points for an eternity. Toronto got it done, and putting up 47 points in the fourth quarter certainly turned the tide. Getting to the line for 26 attempts and sinking 17 of them was a massive boost.
All in all, the Raps got to the line 48 times and made 31, good for a 64.6 percent clip. That being said, it’s hard to ignore the 17 missed free throws — even if Toronto squeaked by with an ultra-gutsy 125–118 win.
With how uncertain the Raptors’ shooting can be, and how easily their blitzing, turnover-forcing, transition-heavy style can get stifled in difficult matchups, every free throw counts. Missing a couple is understandable, but 17 is striking. It certainly helped, too, that the Clippers shot an abysmal 30.4% from the field (7-for-23), as their hot start on offense stalled in crunch time.
Raptors must make the most out of their trips to the line ... it could turn out to be the X-factor between a win and a loss
I will also give Scottie Barnes some grace here: he came into the game with a sore hip and still put up a monster performance to help lead his team to victory. But I’m more concerned about RJ Barrett, who continues to struggle from the line — 58.8 percent at the time of writing. And we know it’s been a recurring theme during his Raptors career. When RJ’s game is so bully-ball and attack-the-rim heavy, not having confidence in his ability at the line can complicate Toronto’s path to victory, especially in tight games or when they’re trying to erase a deficit.
And while I mentioned Barnes’ injury, he’s also struggled a bit from the line to start the year, even with the frustration of his tough whistle from the refs. Barnes is currently shooting 69.6 percent, which isn’t terrible, but it’s not the level this team needs from him to succeed. For context, Scottie B finished last year at a career-high 81.5 percent, after shooting in the mid-to-high 70s in previous seasons.
Yes, I know we’re just seven games into the season, but given how this recent stretch of Raptors basketball has gone, they simply can’t afford to have their star player performing below his usual standard at the line.
And for all the concerns I’ve had about Immanuel Quickley lately, his masterful work at the line against the Clippers was a huge factor in the win. He deserves credit for that.
This stretch isn’t going to get any easier for the Raps. Denver is up later tonight, and I wouldn’t take the Bucks lightly given the recent developments. After that, they’ve got the scorching Grizzlies, the Celtics, the powerhouse 76ers, and two straight tilts with the Knicks. I’m hoping Toronto can get back to forcing turnovers and running at its usual pace in those more demanding matchups.
And if the Raps find themselves getting to the line more than their opponents, they’ll need to clean things up. Those missed points will stand out a lot more if they lose a close one or struggle to get clutch buckets late.
Free throws are everything, and I was glad to hear Scottie Barnes take accountability on that end in his postgame interview after the Clippers win. We’ll see what this upcoming stretch reveals about the Raps’ ability to sink those all-too-important shots at the charity stripe.
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