The Raptors’ 3-point problems aren’t new, but the timing could hardly be worse.
Last season, Toronto finished 21st in the league in 3-point percentage at 35.4% and 26th in attempts per game. The offseason didn’t bring much relief, aside from the trade for Kawhi Leonard. And now Leonard has only played two games, going 4-for-14 from deep and well below his usual standard.
That absence has left the Raptors stuck near the bottom of the NBA in long-range efficiency. Through the early part of the season, they’re shooting 31.5% from 3, the fourth-worst mark in the league. Only the Chicago Bulls, Charlotte Hornets and Washington Wizards have been less effective from behind the arc.
The roster doesn’t offer many easy answers. With Leonard out, Toronto has been leaning on a small group of proven shooters: Jamison Battle, who shot 40% in each of his first two seasons in a limited role; Ja’Kobe Walter, who became the team’s most efficient volume shooter last season; and Immanuel Quickley, a 37% career 3-point shooter.
Battle has held up in bigger minutes, hitting 42.1% of his threes on 4.2 attempts over the first nine games. Walter and Quickley are both at 33.3% so far.
Alijah Martin has given the bench a possible boost, but the overall shooting picture still isn’t good enough. Walter’s recent slide has made that even more obvious: over the last three games, he’s gone 2-for-16 from deep.
That’s the stretch Toronto can’t really afford right now. Walter doesn’t have to be perfect, but the Raptors need him to stop bleeding misses, especially with Leonard still out and a brutal run of games on deck.
Leonard is back with the team after getting treatment away from Toronto, and his return should help eventually. Even coming off injury, the expectation is that his shot will settle in more efficiently than it has so far, and his gravity should create cleaner looks for everyone else.
But there’s no sign he’s ready to jump back in immediately. Darko Rajakovic said during Sunday’s practice availability that Leonard still hadn’t reached on-court activity yet, so it may be some time before he’s back playing meaningful minutes.
Until then, the Raptors need Walter to break out of his three-game slump and start knocking down shots again. Toronto survived two of his rough shooting nights, but those wins came against the LA Clippers and Milwaukee Bucks.
The schedule is about to stiffen dramatically, with four games against Eastern Conference heavyweights. The Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics are sitting at the top of the standings, while the New York Knicks remain one of the teams to beat despite their slow start.
If Walter’s shot stays cold, that stretch could get ugly fast.
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