It's been a confounding start to the season for the Raptors.

Two months into the 2023-24 campaign, losses continue to pile up for Toronto. After making offseason efforts to rework their identity, the Raptors are still searching for answers after a four-game skid has dropped them to 9-14 on the young season.

The Raptors' current record places them in an Eastern Conference tier that also includes the Hawks, Bulls and Hornets. And while Atlanta is in a position more similar to Toronto, both Charlotte and Chicago have each been forced to adjust after injuries to key players in LaMelo Ball and Zach LaVine.

So, what gives? Why is a Raptors team that continues to make win-now moves not winning now? It's hard to pinpoint one specific issue but the situation is becoming increasingly worrisome.

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Starting lineup issues

Coming into the year, there were questions surrounding which five players Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic would feature in the team's starting unit. He answered those questions rather quickly.

To open the season, Toronto has gone with a starting lineup of Dennis Schröder, O.G. Anunoby, Scottie Barnes, Pascal Siakam and Jakob Poeltl in 19 of 23 games.

The above group has shared the floor for 270 minutes over 19 games, making it the team's most-used five-man unit by far. The results, however, have left much more to be desired.

When on the floor together, this lineup has posted an offensive rating of 108.4 and a defensive rating of 113.1, resulting in a net rating of -4.7. Over a sample size that continues to grow, those are far from encouraging figures.

For perspective, Toronto's starting five is one of just nine five-man units that have shared the floor for over 200 minutes this season as of Dec. 13. Among that group of nine teams, the Raptors' net rating is the worst. The only other starting unit with a negative net rating is that of the 3-19 Wizards.

When a team that entered the season with postseason aspirations is in the same realm as a team that has lost 19 of its first 22 games, something is inherently wrong.

Rajakovic has said that he wants to give this unit more time to "figure it out," and while it's still early in the season, it does feel like the team is running out of time.

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Positional overlap

As I outlined when examining the complicated fit between Barnes and Siakam, positional depth was intended to be a feature of the Raptors' roster. With eight players that measure between 6-7 and 6-9, the team has a clear identity.

The problem is, that identity hasn't translated to wins over the past few seasons.

Toronto's core is Anunoby, Barnes and Siakam — three distinct players who do share strengths. Defensively, each player is capable of making life difficult for the opposing team's best player.

Offensively, however, Barnes and Siakam have several parallels in their strengths, which, unfortunately for the Raptors, do not mesh perfectly with Anunoby's skillset or hide his weaknesses.

A lack of shooting has been a thorn in Toronto's side for years now and this season is no different. The Raptors rank 26th in 3s per game and last in 3-point percentage. Given the fact that most players on the roster have similar strengths and weaknesses, change is needed to remedy this problem.

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A good group but unsuccessful team

By all accounts, there is good chemistry in the Raptors locker room. There is a core of players who have been together for years now and while Rajakovic has taken his bumps early on, he's found relative success to say this is his first-ever NBA coaching job.

The biggest takeaway of them all is that Barnes has genuinely leaped with averages of 19.8 points, 9.0 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game. Toronto knocked the Barnes selection out of the park and has a future star on its hands.

As exciting as the above aspects are, it has not translated into success. And the team knows it.

"I think we all know, it's not horrible, but it's up to our standards or what we expect from ourselves," Poeltl said of the team's mood. "I don't think it's necessarily wearing down on our mood, but it's definitely a serious issue we're addressing right now."

As for addressing the issue, Siakam likened the team's struggles to a boxing match, adding that they've got to dig deep to give more.

"We can talk about the schemes and all that but we've just gotta give a little bit more. We've gotta give more. Whatever we think that we're giving, we've gotta give even more. I don't know what the percentage is but I just know that we've gotta give more."

Now, it becomes a question of whether or not this group has any more left to give.