Raptors’ free throw shooting has been truly foul. That has to change

Article content

Basketball teams at all levels work on free throw shooting at just about every practice.

Article content

It’s a fundamental part of the game, a skill honed starting when players first pick up a ball.

Article content

Most NBA players might not be automatic from the stripe, but they’re pretty accurate. Stephen Curry, Steve Nash and Mark Price are the gold standards, the only three players who hit at least 90% for their careers, but 13 players currently have hit at least 90% this season and a handful of current players have connected on 87% of their attempts or better over their careers.

Raptors point guard Dennis Schroder has made 87.5% this season, just a bit above his career average. His teammate Chris Boucher has hit 83% so far, much better than his usual mark around 77%.

Rookie Gradey Dick has even hit all 14 of his free throw attempts, despite missing 31 of 41 three-point attempts and 15 of 22 two-point attempts. At least his free throws are going in. That’s not the case for most of his teammates. The Raptors missed 18 of 36 free throws in last year’s brutal play-in collapse against the Chicago Bulls.

Article content

Article content

One would think improving the easiest shots in the game would be an off-season point of emphasis (that team ranked 17th in the NBA in both accuracy and makes), but somehow this year’s group has been much, much worse. Your 2023-24 Toronto Raptors have shot just 72.7% so far, neck and neck with New York (72.6%) and Denver (72.4%) for the worst mark amongst all teams.

Maybe the decent Knicks and defending champion Nuggets can get away with those struggles, but they have hampered the Raptors so far, including in a three-point loss at Cleveland on Sunday. Toronto shot 69% from the line in that one, missing nine freebies. Cleveland only attempted six free throws, so the Cavaliers didn’t have some huge edge garnered from better accuracy, but a few more Toronto hits from the line could have meant the Raptors would have travelled to Brooklyn for their next game on Tuesday with a record above .500.

Article content

As it is, the Raptors had to make nine of 10 free throws down the stretch against the Cavs to even get to 69% for the game. Heading into the fourth quarter, Toronto had missed eight free throws and made 11. Per TSN, this was the first time the team had taken 20 more free throws than an opponent and managed to lose since 2016. The team has missed at least five free throws in each of its past six games.

A team that profiles as one of the worst half-court scoring teams in the NBA with a distinct lack of quality shooters can’t afford to be so poor from the line.

Nobody expect Jakob Poeltl to be a marksman, but even the career 53% shooter was making closer to 60% lasts season, but is currently at just 48.5%, near his career low. Gary Trent Jr. is the biggest surprise. Trent is one of the few above-average shooters on the team, but has had the yips, hitting just 58.6% of his attempts. Trent was a career 83% from the line heading into this season and nailed 85% just two years ago. He just missed two clutch attempts late in a recent game. OG Anunoby has regressed to 61% after hitting 84% last season. Precious Achiuwa is below 60% after nailing 70% last year. Pascal Siakam was 10% more accurate in 2020-21.

What’s going on and what can be done about all of this?

That’s something head coach Darko Rajakovic and his staff had better figure out — and fast.

@WolstatSun

Article content