I was doing my usual trip around the web and came across some interesting stats for my toronto raptors most of which wasn’t good news.Lets start on the offensive side of the ball .

Offensive Averages:
Points 103.4 (6th)
Assists 21.0 (16th)
Rebounds 40.8 (24th)
FG Pct 47.1 (9th)

Notice we are in the top 10 in points per game and field goal percentage 16th in assists and 24th in offensive rebounds let me remind you there are 30 teams in the NBA,so as i have been saying all season i think my raptors can put the points on the board as easy as any of the top teams in the NBA right now so thats not a problem but i would think for a team that averages 103 points per game that we would be higher in the assists category but 16th is only average,Jarrett Jack i think is doing a great job with calderon out.. the raptors can improve in that category and i will be looking for that improvement in the new year.

Offensive rebounding 24th ! again i am going to say it 30 teams in the NBA.. do i think we can improve that number ? the answer is yes .. remember i am not saying we can get into the top 10 in that category but we can do better than 24th — with a healthy Reggie Evans i think that number can improve deeper into the season.Chris Bosh is averaging 11.3 rebounds per game with an average of 3.3 offensive rebounds what is the rest of the team doing ?

Next we check out the defensive side of the ball,i am writing this and i am afraid to look at the stats .. so lets do this.

Defensive Averages:
Points 105.8 (28th)
Assists 22.8 (25th)
Rebounds 42.2 (15th)
FG Pct 46.3 (20th)

Wow ! take a long look at those numbers allowing 105.8 points a game we are almost dead last in that category with opponents averaging 22.8 assists per game,defensive rebounding isn’t too shabby ,so do i need to say it ? Do you see what the problem is for the raptors if we are to make the playoffs this year we need a vast improvement in defense.. the last four games the raptors has shown that they can do it on the defensive end but can they do it on a consistent basis only time will tell.During this four game winning streak the raptors are holding their opponents to an average of 86.5 points,that is 19.3 points less than their average so far this season.

Can the raptors turn it around on defense ?