Slumping Raptors fall out of NBA Cup

Two weeks ago, the Toronto Raptors were riding a nine-game winning streak. After Tuesday's blowout loss to the New York Knicks in the NBA Cup, they've lost six of seven games and their offense is stalling out.

The Raptors barely put up 100 points in their 117-101 loss to the Knicks, the fourth time in their last eight games they failed to reach 102 points. Since losing starting forward RJ Barrett, they're averaging 104.8 points, 11 points below their season average.

Raptors' strong shooting has disappeared

After starting the season shooting very well, the Raptors' biggest offensive weakness has become a problem again. In their last 10 games, Toronto is averaging only 10.5 three-pointers and shooting 33.4 percent. Both of those are among the worst marks in the NBA.

One of the biggest disappointments has been Gradey Dick, a player the Raptors drafted thinking he'd be a great shooter after he shot 40.3 percent in his lone year at Kansas. He hasn't delivered on that promise in the NBA as he's connected on 41.4 percent of his shots overall and 35.2 percent of his three-pointers (just 31.5 percent this season).

Other early shooting successes have fallen off. Scottie Barnes is hitting 38.3 percent of his threes overall, but 33.3 percent in the last 10 games. Sandro Mamukelashvili is at 36.8 percent and just 28.1 percent in his last 10 games. The Raptors are moving closer to last season's No. 28 mark in three-pointers than their early success.

Toronto's offense is struggling inside as well

While their outside shooting has declined, the Raptors are also struggling inside. They're getting the fifth-fewest free-throw attempts during their scoring slump, while their shots are getting blocked more often than all but two other teams.

A lot of that is due to Jakob Poeltl's declining field-goal percentage and free-throw attempts. The big man is still an important hub in the Raptors offense, but the center has to be a more efficient scorer inside.

Brandon Ingram is continuing to score in bunches, but the other Raptors aren't coming along. They shouldn't be as bad as their recent performances have looked, but they're probably not as good as their hot start suggested.