Toronto Raptors: In an uneven East, the Raptors stand firm

In an up-and-down Eastern Conference, this could finally be the year for the Toronto Raptors, who appear ready to make a run in the playoffs

The Toronto Raptors have a reputation and it’s one that the players and organization would prefer to rid themselves of.

For the past couple of seasons, Toronto has had a great team that seems to disappoint when it comes to playoff success. The Raptors did make the Eastern Conference Finals in 2016 but the two seasons before that they went out in the first round.

Last year, Toronto entered the playoffs as the three seed and after dropping the first game in their series vs Milwaukee they won four of the next five to win the series in six. Then came a rematch from the previous seasons Eastern Conference Finals but this time it was the semifinals.

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The Raptors would not only get swept by the Cavaliers but only one game was decided by single digits. The media and fans continued to talk about if this was as good as the current core was capable of. Some even felt that Toronto should start considering blowing up their nucleus and hope that LeBron James’s reign over the East would be over by the time the new roster was ready to compete.

However, Toronto decided to bring back the same core with a few minor changes. It appears that the Raptors front office knew what they had in this roster as it’s paying off this season.

Toronto is not only the top team in the East but they currently sit at 45-17 with a 1.5 game lead on Boston. The Raptors won 51 games last season and are projected by basketball reference to win 59.2 games this season. But it’s not just the record that’s impressive this season.

Toronto has the 3rd best offensive rating in the NBA at 110.9 and the 3rd best defensive rating at 102.6. The Raptors are also 3rd in net rating at 8.3. The only teams in the NBA with a better net rating are the Golden State Warriors and the Houston Rockets.

If the Raptors are going to finally break through and end LeBron’s grip on the Eastern Conference, they will likely have to go through the Cavaliers as well as the Boston Celtics. So far on the season the Raptors are 1-0 vs Cleveland and 1-1 vs Boston with two games remaining against both of those teams.

If Toronto can win those season series it would provide them with some confidence heading into an eventual showdown with at least one of those squads.

This Toronto team has felt different all season and most analysts agree that the biggest threat to LeBron and the Cavs is the team from the north. DeMar DeRozan has played like an MVP candidate and has elevated and expanded his game. Kyle Lowry has continued to be an efficient player who is undervalued and under appreciated.

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The Toronto Raptors efficient offense ranks in the top 10 in FG%, FG, 3P, FT% and turnovers. As long as that offense doesn’t disappear come playoff time then this should be the year that Toronto makes the NBA Finals and ends LeBron James consecutive Finals streak.

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