The Raptors are already off and running, and the first two games have made the same point loud and clear: Toronto’s foundation is built on defense, energy and pressure. The wins over the Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards may not have come against the East’s elite, but they’ve still shown exactly what this group wants to be early in the 2026-27 season.
That identity has been hard to miss. Toronto has been forcing turnovers, turning stops into fast breaks, bothering passing lanes and cashing in at the line. The effort level has stood out, especially with active young pieces like Collin Murray-Boyles and even the small early glimpse from rookie Allen Graves adding to the team’s edge.
There’s also plenty of versatility baked into this roster. The Raptors can switch across matchups, push the pace and lean on Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett as downhill options. Kawhi Leonard adds another layer with his isolation game and mid-range scoring, while Barnes has already looked especially comfortable from that area himself, particularly in the win over Washington.
Immanuel Quickley remains a key swing piece, too. His shooting from deep was part of the reason Toronto looked so dangerous in the opener against Chicago, and it’s easy to see how that could become a bigger difference-maker as the season goes on.
The issue so far is that the three-point numbers haven’t matched the rest of the production. Toronto opened by going 10-for-31 from beyond the arc against the Bulls, then followed that with a 7-for-34 showing against the Wizards.
Even in the 112-102 win over Washington, the perimeter shooting left room for concern. The Raptors still got the job done, but the Wizards started to sense an opening as Trae Young and Tre Johnson helped trim the margin and push the game back into reach.
That’s what makes the early results so interesting. Toronto has already shown how tough it can be because of its defensive pressure, better rebounding so far and a level of energy that’s difficult to match. If the shooting from outside starts to come around, the ceiling gets a lot higher.
Quickley is expected to hit big threes. That part makes sense. But Leonard has been slow to find his touch from long range through the first two games, and Ja’Kobe Walter has also struggled there, even while standing out as a major bench threat and showing what he can offer in year three.
The Raptors’ physical, grinding style is already working. If the perimeter shooting comes with it, Toronto could become a much more dangerous team in the Eastern Conference.
In Other News...
Raptors Rookie Allen Graves Already Has A Ritual Fans Will Love
Allen Graves has already given Raptors fans a glimpse of the personality that comes with a first-round pick who is still finding his footing in the NBA. The rookie, expected to chip in as a two-way option off the bench, has suited up in Torontos first two games of the 2026 season and has been easing into the rotation while showing the kind of routine that usually sticks with teammates as much as it does fans.
Before games, Graves likes to take a nap in a tiny room that he says feels like a closet, a spot he jokingly calls his Harry Potter room. It is the sort of odd, memorable habit that tends to travel quickly around a locker room, and with Graves still in the early stages of his pro career, the little details are starting to stand out almost as much as the minutes and production he has logged so far. [Read more 🡒]