The 2025-26 campaign has been the year of improvement for teams all across conferences. Teams like the Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns, Detroit Pistons, Portland Trail Blazers and most importantly the Toronto Raptors all have re-established a winning culture. Despite Toronto winning 36 games this season, it hasn’t always been this substantial. In 2025, the Raptors accumulated a record of (30-52) ultimately finishing 11th in the Eastern Conference.
However the biggest were injuries; Scottie Barnes‘ hand injury, the absence of Immanuel Quickley and others raised a question on whether a lack of depth on the hardwood was a flaw.
Why the Toronto Raptors are Struggling Against Playoff Teams
Toronto’s 2025 Acquisitions
Going into the new year, Raptors GM Masai Ujiri quietly constructed an offense to complement their franchise piece in Scottie Barnes. Signing Brandon Ingram to a three-year $120 million deal after acquiring him from the New Orleans Pelicans, adding forward Sandro Mamukelashvili from San Antonio and drafting South Carolina alumnus Collin Murray-Boyles. These signings helped shape the franchise to what it is today.
What’s the Problem
Toronto is winning games at an efficient rate and is now predicted to win over 40 games come playoff time in April. The problem over the last few weeks is their struggle to defeat opponents above 500. Since Jan. 28th, Toronto has lost eight contests to future playoff contenders, including the Oklahoma City Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves, Detroit Pistons and the San Antonio Spurs.
While Toronto finds little to no turnovers with 13.7 per game, Ingram and Barnes combine for over 7.0+ turnovers single handedly. In addition, the Raptors are currently ranked near the bottom of the league in Defensive Rebound Percentage (approx.73.5%). By failing to secure a board, Toronto actually helps in second-chance points for teams without established shooters.
Toronto’s current problems align with teams from the past. The 2023-24 Minnesota Timberwolves and the 2024-25 Milwaukee Bucks are all great examples of the current struggles in ”The 6ix.”
The Resolution: Feed the Hot Hand
In order to improve, Coach Darko Rajakovic must lean into a shift. Sandro Mamukelashvili needs a consistent 25+ minutes on the court. His high motor energy provides the “glue” that the lineup lacks. This year, he is shooting 51.8% from the field, proving he can do it all on the hardwood. To add on, the primary ball handler needs to shift. Letting “IQ” control the ship allows Barnes and Ingram to focus more on scoring effectively, ultimately cutting the 7.0 turnovers in half.
Rebounding is also a major factor the Raptors will need to address with urgency. The team can’t always rely on the presence of center Jakob Poeltl. Poeltl has frequent injuries, which means Toronto must develop a “committee” approach to the glass. If wings like RJ Barrett and Gradey Dick commit to rebounding instead of focusing on easy transition points, Toronto can easily decrease the momentum of high-energy opponents. By securing the defensive board, Toronto doesn’t just end the opponent’s possession; they establish their own fast break, which remains a deadly weapon in Rajakovic’s play scheme.
All in all, Toronto is a great team. However, if they want to retain the fifth seed in the East or improve, they will need to implement these changes in order to keep up with contenders.
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