2022-23 record: 41-41
OffRtg: 114.6 (13) DefRtg: 113.1 (11) NetRtg: +1.5 (12) Pace: 97.9 (25)
The Raptors seemingly took a step backward with the departure of Fred VanVleet, but there’s potential for improvement with a new coach, continued development from Scottie Barnes, and a full season with Jakob Poeltl. Style-of-play numbers correlate more from the regular season to the preseason and the Raptors ‘ preseason hinted at a big change in the way they play.
Preseason takeaways
- The Raptors saw the league’s second biggest jump in pace and its biggest jump in assist rate (AST/FGM) from last season to the preseason.
- They had offensive success inside, as (when you include games against international teams) they ranked second in the percentage of their shots (54%) that came in the paint, first in paint field goal percentage (62.8%), and first in free throw rate (37 attempts per 100 shots from the field).
- Barnes didn’t hesitate when he was open beyond the arc (a contrast from parts of last season), and he shot 7-for-14 from deep*, finishing with the highest effective field goal percentage (70.9%) among 117 players with at least 35 field goal attempts. But he did suffer a foot injury in the preseason finale.
* More 3-point makes than he had over his last 17 games last season.
The Raptors were one of two undefeated teams in the preseason and had the top-ranked defense and sixth-ranked offense in games played between NBA teams, outscoring the Kings, Bulls and Wizards by 16.7 points per 100 possessions, the league’s best mark. But a big piece of that point differential came with a 76-46 second half against Washington on Friday.
Something to watch in Week 1: The results. Games against the Wolves, Bulls and Sixers could be a good test of just how good the Raptors will be this season.
The Raptors have two rest-disadvantage games in the first 10 days of the season, and they’re both against the Sixers. The first of the two is Saturday at Scotiabank Arena.
Week 1: vs. MIN, @ CHI, vs. PHI
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