The Toronto Raptors suffered a setback this week. They dropped two straight games after winning nine in a row. That drop pushed them to No. 11 in NBA.com’s power rankings. They were number 9 last week.
NBA.com writer John Schuhmann explained the decline. “The Raptors are heading to the quarter-finals of the Emirates NBA Cup for the first time, but after winning nine games in a row, they lost both parts of the weekend in a row,” he wrote. Toronto remains respected, but must become stricter again.
Schedule pressure and injuries take their toll
The timing of this slump hasn’t helped. The weekend losses started a stretch of five games in seven days. Schuhmann pointed out that Tuesday’s game against Portland begins a five-game homestand. That run could give the Raptors a chance to establish themselves.
Injuries were the biggest problem. RJ Barrett has missed four games due to a knee sprain. Toronto has averaged just 103 points in that span. The number is well below the seasonal average of 117.6.
Jakob Poeltl also missed Sunday’s game in New York. He hasn’t played on either side of a back-to-back since Week 2. With Poeltl out, Scottie Barnes started at center. The Raptors then had their worst rebounding performance since October. They are now 0-5 if they collect less than 45% of the available boards.
Offense takes a hit without Barrett
The Raptors’ offensive struggles without Barrett were evident. “The four games without him were their worst offensive period (102.7 points scored per 100 possessions),” Schuhmann wrote. Shooting has also dropped in the squad. Barnes is the only Raptor with an effective field goal percentage above 50% among players with at least 25 attempts in that span.
Barrett will be re-evaluated this week. He could return during the homestand if his knee responds well. Toronto will host the Trail Blazers, Lakers, Hornets and Celtics during a critical period. If the Raptors get healthy again, they should be in position to climb back into the top ten.
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