If you look at the NBA standings, the Toronto Raptors are the worst team in the league. They’ve now lost seven games in a row and cannot find a way to win. The Toronto Raptors record is 2-12, and although the season is still young, they will have a hard time competing for a playoff spot. Despite the horrible Toronto Raptors record, it is more due to bad luck and their inability to finish close games than them being the worst team in the league.
Why The Raptors Aren’t The Worst Team In The League
The Toronto Raptors Injury Report is Full
The Toronto Raptors injury report is the main reason for their rough start to the season. Their two best players, Immanuel Quickley and Scottie Barnes, have both dealt with injury issues. They have played a combined seven games all season, and the Raptors have felt their absence in a big way.
Quickley and Barnes are essential pieces to the Raptors on both the offensive and defensive ends of the floor. Quickley was supposed to be the point guard and pacesetter for a young and fast Raptors team. Of the players who spent their whole seasons with the Raptors in 2023-24, Barnes led the team in points and assists. He also was second in rebounding.
On the defensive end, Barnes is sorely missed as well. His length and athletic ability are essential to causing turnovers and disruption. He led the team in steals and was second in blocks last season.
TATUM CALLS GAME VS RAPTORS 🚨 pic.twitter.com/DWfCZ4oEMX
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 17, 2024
The Toronto Raptors Record is Deceiving
The Raptors might have had the worst end-of-game performances in the league this season. They’ve played three games that have gone to overtime and even more that were extremely close toward the end. Although being able to finish close games is certainly the mark of a good team, the amount of tough game-winning or tying shots they’ve fallen victim to has been downright unlucky.
Of their 12 losses this season, seven of the games have been decided by six points or less. They are 1-6 in the clutch this season. If just three or four of those games had gone their way, they would not only be off the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings but maybe even in the mix for a Play-In Tournament spot.
For having the worst record in the league, you would expect the Raptors to have some of the worst statistical metrics in the league as well. They aren’t even in the bottom five as far as plus/minus; they’re ranked 19th in offensive rating and 25th in net rating. They’re bad but not the worst.
The Raptors Most Recent Heartbreak
The most recent Raptors heartbreak was in the Raptors/Celtics game from Saturday night. The game was another where the feisty Raptors stayed competitive against one of the best teams in the league but lost on a last-second shot (they had two such games against the Nuggets earlier this season).
Jayson Tatum’s deep game-winning three was just another dagger in the hearts of Raptors fans this season. From injuries to their key players to unlucky ends to close games, the Raptors are better than their record shows.
