5 Things Toronto Raptors Must Improve After All-Star Break

By Jerry Landry

Things Toronto Raptors Must Improve After All-Star Break

DeMar DeRozan Toronto Raptors basketball — Being in first place in an NBA Eastern Conference division is like being the mayor of a small town. There’s a bigger world out there, and in the NBA, it’s all out West. Although the Toronto Raptors currently lead the Atlantic Division, there’s still immense room for improvement. Here are five things the Raptors must work on from now until May if they’re to take the franchise into exciting and unfamiliar territory.

5. 3-Point Shooting Percentage

Kyle Lowry Toronto Raptors 3-ball

5. 3-Point Shooting Percentage

Kyle Lowry Toronto Raptors 3-ball — The Raptors sit at a mediocre 16th in the league when it comes to launching treys and hitting them. The playoffs are just 29 games away, and in those 29 games, Toronto needs to remedy its cold shooting from behind the arc so it can ice teams later on in the postseason.

4. Limiting Second-Chance Opportunities

Toronto Raptors Jonas Valanciunas Rebound Brook Lopez

4. Limiting Second-Chance Opportunities

Toronto Raptors Jonas Valanciunas Rebound Brook Lopez — Toronto gives up 11.3 offensive rebounds to its opponents per game. This translates to at least 11.3 second-chance opportunities for NBA-caliber players to turn a miss into a make. This is the 11th-worst mark in the league, and is unbecoming of a playoff-bound team.

3. Cleaning The Glass, Overall

Amir Johnson Toronto Raptors rebounding

3. Cleaning The Glass, Overall

Amir Johnson Toronto Raptors rebounding — Toronto ranks 22nd in the NBA in total rebounds. The playoffs are physical, and pulling down a meager sub-42 rebounds per game does not scream ‘tenacity.’ If the Raptors are serious about mounting a 50-win season and driving deep into the playoffs, then it’s time to box out, lock in and grab those boards.

2. Distributing The Ball

Kyle Lowry Toronto Raptors Point Guard

2. Distributing The Ball

Kyle Lowry Toronto Raptors Point Guard — Statistically, Toronto is a bit on the selfish side. The Raptors rank 21st in assists per game, yet somehow are top-five in scoring. Imagine if they really went for the open look every possession, and made that one extra pass.

1. Scoring Defense

Toronto Raptors Greivis Vasquez defense

1. Scoring Defense

Toronto Raptors Greivis Vasquez defense — The NBA’s No. 5 scoring offense is negatively complemented with the NBA’s 22nd-ranked scoring defense. Even in the Eastern Conference, it’s really tough to run-n-gun your way through the intense part of your remaining schedule, let alone the postseason. For the Raptors to keep impressing us with their offense, they better start sticking to their assignments on defense.

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Toronto Raptors

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