Toronto Raptors: Biggest strengths and weaknesses for 2017-18

Weakness No. 1: Passing

The Toronto Raptors are not a great passing team, and they did not address this deficiency in the offseason. The Raptors averaged 18.5 assists per game last season, which placed dead last in the NBA.

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The Raptors run an isolation and pick-and-roll heavy offense. Last year, Toronto averaged 0.98 points per possession on isolation plays, placing second in the league behind Cleveland. They also had a 24.2 percent pick-and-roll frequency, finishing first in the NBA.

The Raptors were a top 10 scoring team, so a lack of ball movement didn’t seem to hinder their offense in the regular season. But in does hurt them in the playoffs. The Raptors averaged just 101.0 points per game as they were swept in the second round against Cleveland — well below their regular season mark of 106.9 points. Toronto’s predictable offense of isolation and pick-and-rolls makes them easier to defend over the course of a seven-game series.

Sure, the Cavaliers have the highest iso frequency in the NBA, but when you have the best player in the league in LeBron James and had arguably the best iso scorer in Kyrie Irving, things tend to work themselves out.

Toronto doesn’t have to adopt the pass-happy, motion offense of the Golden State Warriors, but they can’t finish dead last in assists and compete with the beasts of the East.