Major Key For Milwaukee: Don’t Let The Raptors Shoot
One huge part of this losing streak in Toronto has been due to a complete inability for the Raptors to shoot the basketball from distance. Over their last five games the Raps have made just 7.2 three-pointers per game, fourth-worst in the NBA.
Even worse, the Raptors are dead last in three-point percentage in that span. Toronto has shot just 25.7 percent from beyond the arc in the last five games. As the Raptors have learned, it’s tough to win without defense or shooting in the NBA these days.
Kyle Lowry has quietly struggled at shooting the three over this rough patch for Toronto, making just 27.3 percent of his triples. Considering Lowry is usually a 42.2 percent three-point shooter, that’s been quite a drop-off.
Losing DeMar DeRozan for the last two games (and for the game against the Bucks) doesn’t help matters. Although DeRozan isn’t much of a shooter himself, the attention he draws sucks defenders away from open shooters. Without him, there will be less space for the other Raptors to operate in.