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Toronto Raptors: It’s this year or never for the ‘new Raptors’

By Robbie Stratakos

TORONTO, ON - MAY 27: Kyle Lowry #7 and DeMar DeRozan #10 of the Toronto Raptors react late in their 887 to 113 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers in game six of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2016 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre on May 27, 2016 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - MAY 27: Kyle Lowry #7 and DeMar DeRozan #10 of the Toronto Raptors react late in their 887 to 113 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers in game six of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2016 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre on May 27, 2016 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images) /
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The Toronto Raptors’ window for success is rapidly closing. If they can’t get past the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Semifinals, they’ll never escape the East

This year, the Toronto Raptors gave off the impression that they may finally be ready to get over the mental hurdle that’s their playoff failures.

Then, they blew a 13-point second half lead at home in their Game 1 Semifinals matchup with the Cleveland Cavaliers Tuesday night. And if Toronto fails to turn around this series and/or doesn’t escape the Eastern Conference in the coming weeks, they never will.

Headed into the regular season, the Raptors were viewed as a threat to win the East, as they have been in recent memory, but this time around they endured success at an extremely high level.  Whether it be the play of DeMar DeRozan, Kyle Lowry, Jonas Valanciunas, or their bench, head coach Dwane Casey’s crew was a force to be reckoned with in the regular season.

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Finishing with the most wins in the Eastern Conference and in the Casey era (59), they gave off the impression that this version of the Raptors could finally be the one that gets over the hump; winning the first two games of their first-round series with the Washington Wizards furthered that notion. And while it took them six games to beat the 8-seeded Wizards, the Raptors still showcased the ability to dominate games.

Lowry and DeRozan each chipped in on the Raptors’ scoring attack, but also combined for 12.1 assists per game in the regular season. That selfless play from the high-octane backcourt duo was contagious. The Raptors shared the rock, found the open man with ease, and were a handful for opposing teams to prepare for.

The imminent problem the Raptors are now faced with is the challenge of finally beating LeBron James. Yes, James has made it out of the Eastern Conference the last seven years (four times with the Miami Heat, three times with the Cavs) and put forth a heroic first-round effort versus the Indiana Pacers – which means the Raptors haven’t been the only victims of his play.

But this is, undoubtedly, the most troubled and worrisome roster the Cavs have seen since James returned to The Land.

Outside of James, the Cavs have been wildly inconsistent. It’s always an unknown what their supporting cast is going to provide them with on both ends whether it be Kevin Love, Tristan Thompson, Jordan Clarkson, Kyle Korver, or J.R. Smith, among others. James bailed their supporting cast out last round, averaging 34.4 points, 10 rebounds, and 7.7 assists per game in 41.1 minutes a night in what was a grueling seven-game series with the Pacers.

Yet, despite the inconsistency among their trade deadline acquisitions and roster overall, the Cavs continue to have the Raptors’ number.

Back in March, the Raptors were playing out of their minds on both ends of the floor, and the Cavs were struggling to win back-to-back games. Then, the Cavs managed to pull off a 15-point, second-half comeback to defeat Toronto, and they beat them once more two weeks later. The Cavs have also eliminated the Raptors in the playoffs the last two seasons.

The Raptors are clearly the more talented and deeper team, but the Cavs continue to be a handful for them. Is it the Raptors having the mentality of James will find a way to beat us? The fact that James and the Cavs just have their number? This is the best Raptors’ team in the Casey era and the worst Cavs’ team since James returned. The Semifinals present the best opportunity for the Raptors to finally return the favor.

Look around the Eastern Conference. The Boston Celtics are run through the best head coach in the game (Brad Stevens), are capable of playing at a high level without Kyrie Irving, are arguably the best defensive team in the NBA, and have an extremely talented young core. With Gordon Hayward and Irving returning next season, to go along with their promising youth which features the likes of Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Terry Rozier, the Celtics are poised to be an Eastern Conference powerhouse for the foreseeable future. The same applies for the Philadelphia 76ers.

The 76ers finally broke out to win 52 games this season. Their core of Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, Dario Saric, Robert Covington, and Markelle Fultz is a force to be reckoned with, is finally healthy, and are only going to improve in the coming years. Embiid and Simmons, in particular, have showcased the ability to play at a high level on both ends, and they will likely be teammates or playing on the same court in next year’s All-Star Game.

You can also look at the Indiana Pacers and Milwaukee Bucks as potential Conference threats going forward. The Pacers surprised many winning 48 games this season and nearly beating the Cavs in the first round. With Victior Oladipo on the rise, and an improving core that’s on the same page in place, the Pacers will surely be a tough opponent in the playoffs . And while the Bucks failed to get over the first-round hump, they still have a plethora of intriguing young talent headlined by Giannis Antetokounmpo. Plus, with the right head-coaching hire, the Bucks could begin to take the next step in becoming a formidable foe.

The Raptors are a win-now team. Lowry is 32, DeRozan is 28, and Serge Ibaka is 28; their core isn’t getting any younger and has, in a way, peaked.

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You could make the case that the Raptors are the deepest team in the postseason. Their bench comes into games and doesn’t skip a beat, whether it be through the play of Fred VanVleet, Jakob Poeltl, Delon Wright, Pascal Siakam, or C. J. Miles. Their starting five is as strong as ever, has made sacrifices for one another, and are well-coached; no one’s denying their talent. But if this group doesn’t finally beat the Cavs, they will have squashed their last chance at realistically winning the Conference.

The competition around them is stiff and will only grow stronger. This is the golden opportunity for them to strike. The clock is ticking on the Toronto Raptors; it’s now or never.

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