The energy around Scotiabank Arena feels different lately. You’ve probably noticed it if you’ve been watching the 2025-26 season unfold. Gone are the days of the "Tampa Tank" or the stagnant half-court sets that used to bog down the offense. Now, everything flows through the Toronto Raptors point guard position, and specifically, through the twitchy, high-octane play of Immanuel Quickley.
But it hasn't been a perfectly smooth ride.
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Just this past week, we saw exactly how much the team misses him when he’s not on the floor. Quickley has been dealing with some nagging back spasms—the kind of injury that just ruins a rhythm—and it forced him to sit out the January 16th matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers. When he’s out, the vibe shifts. The pace slows down. Darko Rajaković’s "0.5 offense" starts to look a lot more like a 2.0 offense, and not in a good way.
What Immanuel Quickley Actually Brings to the Table
Most people look at a point guard and just check the assist numbers. Honestly, that’s a mistake with this team. Quickley is currently averaging about 16.5 points and 6.1 assists per game. Those aren't "prime Chris Paul" numbers, but that’s not what the Raptors need him to be.
He’s a gravity well.
When Quickley crosses half-court, defenders have to pick him up immediately because he can pull from 30 feet without thinking twice. That creates a massive amount of room for Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram to operate. Speaking of Ingram, his arrival has changed the math for Quickley. Earlier in the season, there were questions about whether there were enough balls to go around. Instead, we’re seeing Quickley thrive as a secondary creator who can also shift into "microwave" mode when the starters hit the bench.
He’s shooting roughly 35% from deep this year. That’s a bit lower than the 39.5% he flashed during parts of the 2023-24 season, but the degree of difficulty has skyrocketed. He's taking more off-the-dribble threes than ever before.
The Jamal Shead Factor
If you haven't been paying attention to the bench, you’re missing out on Jamal Shead. He’s been a revelation as the backup Toronto Raptors point guard. While Quickley is all about speed and shooting, Shead is a defensive pest. He’s the kind of player who makes opposing guards want to retire by the third quarter.
In that crazy overtime win against the 76ers on January 11th, Shead played 22 massive minutes. He doesn't just pass the ball; he orchestrates. He has a 3.64 assist-to-turnover ratio, which is actually higher than Quickley’s right now. It gives the Raptors a completely different look. If Quickley is the lightning, Shead is the suffocating humidity.
Is Scottie Barnes Actually the Point Guard?
This is where things get kinda complicated. If you ask Darko, he’ll tell you positionless basketball is the goal. During the Indiana game on January 15th, with Quickley sidelined, Scottie Barnes basically took over the point guard duties.
He finished with 13 assists.
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It was a masterclass in "Point Scottie." He was bringing the ball up, calling the sets, and using his 6'7" frame to see over the top of the defense. It’s a luxury most teams don't have. But just because Scottie can play point guard doesn't mean he should do it full-time.
- The Fatigue Factor: Bringing the ball up against full-court pressure is exhausting.
- The Post-Up Loss: When Scottie is at the top of the key, he isn't punishing smaller players in the paint.
- Transition Timing: Quickley is objectively faster in the open floor.
The Raptors are at their best when Quickley is the primary initiator and Scottie is the "Short Roll" playmaker. When they run that 1-4 pick-and-roll, defenses are stuck in a nightmare. If they drop, Quickley hits the floater. If they switch, Scottie takes the small guard to the block. It's simple. It's effective.
Dealing with the Injuries
Let's be real: the injury report has been a disaster lately. It’s not just the Toronto Raptors point guard spot. Jakob Poeltl is out with a lower back strain, and RJ Barrett has been sidelined with an ankle sprain.
When you lose your starting center and your best downhill driver at the same time, the pressure on the point guard becomes immense. On January 16th, the team had to start Ochai Agbaji just to keep the defensive rotations intact. This is why Quickley's health is the most important storyline for the rest of January. If those back spasms become a chronic thing, the Raptors' grip on a top-six seed in the East is going to slip.
The Evolution of Darko’s System
Darko Rajaković came in with a reputation for player development, especially with guards. You can see his fingerprints all over Quickley’s game. In New York, Quickley was often used as a spark plug—a guy who came in to change the energy. In Toronto, he’s being asked to manage the clock.
He’s getting better at knowing when to push and when to pull back. In a recent loss to Boston, he had 13 assists but only 17 points. That shows a willingness to defer when his shot isn't falling, which is a huge step in his maturity.
The Raptors are currently 4th in the East with a 25-18 record. That is way ahead of where most analysts picked them to be. A huge part of that is the defensive identity. Even though the offense gets the headlines, the Raptors are 6th in the league in Defensive Rating. Having a point guard like Quickley who can at least stay in front of his man, and a backup like Shead who can dominate defensively, is the foundation.
What to Watch For Next
The schedule doesn't get any easier. With a road trip to Los Angeles to face the Lakers on January 18th, the Raptors need their floor general back.
If you're watching the next few games, keep an eye on the "usage rate" for Quickley compared to Brandon Ingram. Sometimes they get a little "your turn, my turn." When the ball moves through three or four sets of hands before a shot, the Raptors win. When it sticks with one guy, they struggle.
Actionable Insights for Raptors Fans:
- Track the Injury Report: Quickley’s back spasms are "day-to-day," but those can linger. Watch for his lateral movement in warmups.
- Watch the Shead/Quickley Minutes: Darko has experimented with playing them together. It’s a tiny backcourt, but the ball movement is electric.
- Monitor Scottie’s Assists: If Scottie is hitting 8+ assists, it usually means the point guards are doing their job of spacing the floor.
- Look at the 1st Quarter Pace: The Raptors are most successful when they play at a pace of 100+ possessions. If the first quarter is a grind, they’re in trouble.
The Toronto Raptors point guard position isn't just a spot on the depth chart anymore. It’s the engine of the entire franchise. Whether it’s Quickley’s shooting, Shead’s defense, or Scottie’s versatility, the way this team handles the ball will determine if they’re just a "feel-good story" or a legitimate threat in the playoffs.
Stay focused on the assist-to-turnover ratios over the next ten games. If Quickley can keep that number above 3.5 while maintaining his scoring, the Raptors are going to be a very tough out for anyone in the Eastern Conference.