Feb 6, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry (7) is congratulated by guard DeMar DeRozan (10) after making a basket against the Los Angeles Clippers at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Clippers 123-107. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Toronto Raptors
By Ryan McNeill
Record: 49-33
First Round Opponent: Washington Wizards
Season Series: Raptors won 3-0
The Toronto Raptors sprinted out of the gate this season with a 24-7 record. Things were great for Toronto as they were sitting atop the Eastern Conference until the end of 2014.
And then things got ugly.
DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry have already missed significant games due to injury and Amir “Walking Dead” Johnson has already missed one game due to an issue with his ankle. That’s three of Toronto’s starters and arguably their three best players.
Toronto has limped through the second half of the season with a 21-25 record since that hot start.
Luckily for Toronto, DeRozan has come on strong recently and is currently in a 10-game stretch where he’s averaging 24.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists. Those are great numbers, but it hasn’t helped Toronto win games as the team is 5-5 over that stretch of games.
The Raptors had to be hoping and praying for a matchup against the Washington Wizards in the first round — and they got it. They are 3-0 against the Wizards this season, while the Chicago Bulls (0-4) swept Toronto and Milwaukee has played them well (Toronto is 2-1 in the series series but the Bucks could easily own the season series).
Expectations for the Raptors were raised after a hot start. If the team falters in the playoffs – and fails to win a series – expect for Dwane Casey to be replaced and for Masai Ujiri to shake up the roster.
The playoffs will pay a big role in how the next few years of this franchise is headed.
Next: The curious case of the Washington Wizards