"In the broader context of NBA team advanced analytics, the Raptors find themselves in a category that highlights their impressive efforts in the 2025-26 campaign to date, alongside two premier Western Conference teams. At the time of writing, the Toronto Raptors are allowing the third-fewest fast break points per game at 12.9, behind only the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder (currently holding a stellar 15-1 record) with 10.6 and the San Antonio Spurs (also firmly in the West mix with an 11-4 record), who lead with 9.9."
"When the Raptors started this year, the frantic defensive pressure system that Darko Rajakovic was implementing was resulting in more negative outcomes than positive ones. In October, the Raptors ranked 24th in the league in team defensive rating at 118.4, which spoke to their lowlights. Now, in what has been a tremendous November for Toronto, the Raptors have risen to fourth in the league in team defensive rating at 109.0."
Toronto holds the second seed in the Eastern Conference and first in the Atlantic Division while sitting 2-0 in NBA Cup group play and can advance with a win over Washington plus an Indiana loss. The team allows 12.9 fast-break points per game, third-best behind Oklahoma City (10.6) and San Antonio (9.9). During 2024-25 the Raptors allowed 16.2 fast-break points per game. Early-season application of Darko Rajakovic's high-pressure defensive system produced negative results, with October team defensive rating at 118.4 (24th). In November the Raptors improved to fourth in defensive rating at 109.0, largely by tightening transition defense, though work remains.
Read at Raptors Rapture
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