Toronto Raptors: Can Their Offense Last In The Playoffs?

The Toronto Raptors’ offense has surged to the top of the NBA since the All-Star break, but can it last come playoff time?

Since returning from the All-Star break, the Toronto Raptors have come back down to earth a bit.

You wouldn’t know it when looking at their record as the team has gone 10-4 and their winning percentage (.714) is tied for the fourth-highest in the league since returning from the break.

However, the team’s defense, which was in the top 10 at the All-Star break (per NBA.com/stats), has completely unraveled in the last few weeks and it’s left the Raptors scrambling to find a solution to fix what’s gone wrong on that end.

Though as the Raptors look to address their recent defensive concerns, the opposite applies to the team’s offense.

The Raptors have been a strong offensive team all throughout the season, headlined by the play of their All-Star backcourt made up of Demar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry.

That couldn’t be more truer today as the Raptors have the highest offensive rating in the NBA (113.1 points per 100 possessions) since returning from the All-Star break.

More from Hoops Habit

The reasons for the Raptors’ offensive success are pretty simple as the team’s field goal percentage (47 percent) and three-point percentage (37 percent) both stand at sixth and ninth in the NBA since the break, respectively.

Additionally, both Lowry and DeRozan have continued to keep up their stellar play (a possible all-time high, in Lowry’s case) and their scoring collectively (50.3 points per game) accounts for 47 percent of the team’s 107.3 points per game since the break.

While it’s been impressive, there’s been a growing concern on whether the Raptors’ offensive style is built to last in the postseason.

Although other factors such as injuries played a factor, the team’s disappointing exit from the playoffs last year hasn’t helped to diminish those growing concerns.

So what is it specifically about the Raptors’ offensive style that could face some difficulty come playoff time?

For one, a big factor behind the Raptors’ offensive success is the team’s high free throw rate (33.2 percent), which ranks as the third highest in the league, just behind the Houston Rockets and the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Secondly, the team’s methodical pace (95.3) ranks as the third-slowest in the league, just ahead of the Utah Jazz and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Although there’s obviously more to it the Raptors’ success this year, it’s clear that the Raptors’ offensive blueprint works throughout the regular season. But again, will those key elements hold up when the postseason rolls around?