This is one of those bad news-bad news situations.

Not only do the Toronto Raptors get to the free throw line with troubling infrequency but when they do manage to shoot foul shots, they make them at an unacceptably bad clip.

And when all the ugly numbers get tallied up, they could mean problems down the road for the would-be Eastern Conference contenders.

Heading into tonight's game with the Memphis Grizzlies (6:30 p.m., Sportsnet, FAN 590), the Raptors are among the dregs of the 29-team NBA in both free throws shot and free throws made.

On an average, they get to the line just 23 times a game, which is seven behind the league-leading Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs.

And of those 23, the Raptors manage to make only 16.3, for a 71 per cent inefficiency mark that puts them 24th of those 29 franchises. In fact, in raw numbers only the Miami Heat (14.2), Boston Celtics (16.1) and Denver Nuggets (16.2) make fewer foul shots, on average, each game