The Toronto Raptors entered last season continuing their rebuilding process. With a roster full of inexperienced players and several midseason changes, the team struggled to find consistency and ultimately finished near the bottom of the standings, posting a 30–52 record.<\/p>
The start of the season was particularly rough. The Canadian team won only five of its first 20 games, quickly sinking to the lower ranks of the Eastern Conference. In fact, they didn’t reach the 10-win mark until January 15, nearly three months into the season.<\/p>
However, the Raptors had their best stretch immediately after that. Between January 13 and February 2, Toronto won eight of ten games, marking its most promising run of the year.<\/p>
Improved defense was the key reason behind the turnaround. During that late stretch, the Raptors posted the third-best defensive rating in the NBA. It turned out to be a dramatic shift from their earlier struggles when they ranked among the league’s four worst teams on that end.<\/p>
The return of key injured players also played a major role. Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley, and RJ Barrett all missed multiple games due to physical issues, while newly acquired star Brandon Ingram never suited up at all because of an ankle injury.<\/p>
Ultimately, the Raptors finished 11th in the East. Despite the disappointing record, there were bright spots, particularly the development of young talents who could shape the team’s future. Second-year guard Gradey Dick was a standout, averaging 14.4 points and 3.6 rebounds in 29.4 minutes per game.<\/p>