The Toronto Raptors fell 129-105 to the Miami Heat Saturday night in the NBA’s preseason opener at Quebec City. Without seven-time All-Star Kawhi Leonard, Toronto struggled to score against the Giannis Antetokounmpo-led Heat in a defensive battle. The Raptors were led by RJ Barrett and Tyreke Key, who contributed 15 points each, while Miami was led by Tim Hardaway Jr., who added 14 points in 11 minutes off the bench.

Miami’s superpower this season will be how well they can force opposing teams into poor shooting percentages, and that was on full display this weekend. Toronto shot 39% from the field and 29% from three. Specifically, several of the Raptors’ main rotational pieces struggled from the field; Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, Ja’Kobe Walter, Collin Murray-Boyles, and Jamal Shead combined for 12-for-40 shooting (30%).

Toronto’s defense was able to shine in its own way despite the loss. Last season, the Raptors made a name for themselves by playing physical, aggressive defense that led to forced turnovers and fastbreak points. That identity did not disappear in their first exhibition of the season as they forced 25 turnovers including 17 steals. 

One of the Raptors’ greatest weaknesses last season was not attended to this summer: outside shooting. After being one of the worst three-point shooting teams in the NBA, general manager Bobby Webster added seemingly no additional help in that department outside of Leonard, and that showed against Miami. The same players mentioned for poor shooting (plus Scottie Barnes) combined for 5-for-19 from behind the arc. 

While no additions were made to increase the team’s shooting ability, many players were (and still are) expected to take jumps. Walter, specifically, had the second-highest three point percentage (47.6%) of all players in the NBA who made two or more threes per game after the All-Star break last season (via StatMuse). Shead and Murray-Boyles were pointed out for their poor shooting last season, so it was expected that it would be one of, if not the highest priority for their improvement this summer. 

It’s been one preseason game; none of the stats or even results will be remembered in a few weeks once the regular season begins. There’s not much of a point to overreact either for Toronto’s disappointment or Miami’s excitement. In the Raptors’ point of view, both sides of the basketball should be exponentially better once Leonard takes the floor with his new team. The team looked eerily similar to last season in their struggles against the top teams in the NBA, but they aren’t considered potential championship contenders without the two-time Finals MVP leading the way.