The Myth about the Raptors in the Playoffs

[Veggamattic]

So, during the last 2 years in the playoffs the Warriors and the Cavs were easily the best 2 teams and won way more games than any other teams. Who has the 3rd most wins? The Raptors. Well, if they have the most wins then surely the reason people talk about the Raps being a poor playoff team must be the weak competition they played against? Oh, they lost to the Cavs both seasons? Well, the Cavs were vulnerable at that point and the Raps should have beaten them. Oh, the Cavs were playing some of the best basketball in NBA history at the time and demolishing teams they faced.

What happened 3-4 years ago is hardly relevant now by any metric, so why then does nearly everyone always talk about the Raps like they are a disastrous playoff team when being asked what they think of the Raptors chances in the Playoffs?

[dlts20]

That's a very convenient way of looking at it

[Asif16]

I've always said that the Raptors playoff "choking" has been way overblown. But at the end of the day, there's still good merits behind it. We never seem to make it easy on ourselves. I guess we'll find out.

This topic has been beat to death though, so I dont really know if this thread was needed. We have to wait till the playoffs start

[Forte IV]

Yeah I don't understand why people think the Raptors still play iso ball. That's the narrative I keep seeing. It's coming from the same crowd who for years thought Blake Griffin only dunked etc etc. Basically people who only see box scores and don't watch games.

[Detective]

SOON

[LuDux1]

That's a very convenient way of looking at it

Yeah, you can prove anything with facts

[dukes_wild]

It's mainly the Wizards series that left the taste in everyone's mouth. We were the favorites vs the Nets, but we were a young team, inexperienced in the playoffs and Brooklyn had guys who were playoff seasoned. They were also a very hot team after January that season. No shame in us losing that one.

And other than that, we've only lost to the Cavs. Granted our Pacers/Heat series were pretty ugly but hey a win is a win

[Detective]

It's mainly the Wizards series that left the taste in everyone's mouth. We were the favorites vs the Nets, but we were a young team, inexperienced in the playoffs and Brooklyn had guys who were playoff seasoned. They were also a very hot team after January that season. No shame in us losing that one.

And other than that, we've only lost to the Cavs. Granted our Pacers/Heat series were pretty ugly but hey a win is a win

A lot of folks conveniently forget we limped into the Washington series after playing some .500 basketball after the ASG.

This team now, and that team then are worlds apart.

[Pinkyring]

Can we please stop with the raps threads

[Luigi]

The burden to prove they are playoff threats is clearly on the Raps.

They've had bad series in recent memory, and they don't have much by way of head-turning accomplishments if you aren't already a fan. This could be the year they change that. But going in, they haven't changed that yet.

[MrBigShot]

Combination of disappointing ends in previous seasons + Lowry & DeRozan each facing some playoff struggles here and there.

You are right that what happened previously doesn't mean they can't succeed this year. New system, new additions to the bench, and DeRozan is having a really strong year.

[tontonpoulet]

The one key thing about the past 3 playoff performances has been that Lowry's been injured.
He had a messed up back when Washington sweeped them in 2015.
He had a messed up elbow the year the Raps went to a conference finals in 2016.
Last year he came into the playoffs back from a wrist injury with having played only 4 or 5 games only to reinjure himself in the Cleveland series in 2017.
The Raptors relied on him alot precisely because of the iso-heavy offense they ran and his bulldog type of defense.
For now, this year bodes well and we'll see if his shot will finally fall in the playoffs. If so, then that narrative should be over with this year and the Raps could make some noise in the playoffs.

[Veggamattic]

Can we please stop with the raps threads

No

[Bar Fight]

Kyle Lowry: 14.9 PPG on 39% from the field and 30% from three.
Demar Derozan: 21.7 PPG on 40% from the field and 21% from three.

That's how their best players have performed in the Playoffs for their career. Not to mention they've never beaten a good team in a Playoff series. Miami was a mediocre team missing their best player. The Pacers were a mediocre team who flat out choked in Game 7. Last years Bucks were young and inexperienced, and missing Jabari. The Raptors have a lot to prove in the Playoffs this year. They could run into very formidable teams with elite superstars like the Sixers, Wizards, or Cavs in the early rounds of the Playoffs.

[Bar Fight]

It's mainly the Wizards series that left the taste in everyone's mouth. We were the favorites vs the Nets, but we were a young team, inexperienced in the playoffs and Brooklyn had guys who were playoff seasoned. They were also a very hot team after January that season. No shame in us losing that one.

And other than that, we've only lost to the Cavs. Granted our Pacers/Heat series were pretty ugly but hey a win is a win

A lot of folks conveniently forget we limped into the Washington series after playing some .500 basketball after the ASG.

This team now, and that team then are worlds apart.

The Wizards were a below .500 team post-ASG that year.

[Biased_Fan6425]

Thanks for the jinx..

[Atmanne]

Not a myth that their offense has fallen off a cliff in the postseason.

2017: 6th ranked offense in RS, second to last ranked offense in the PS
2016: 5th ranked offense in RS, 12th in PS
Don't even need to bother looking up the previous two postseasons.

There's certainly reason to believe this year's offense is more sustainable, but I'm anxious to see it actually happen.

[Detective]

Thanks for the jinx..

As long as it's not The Ringer...

[NinjaBro]

Can we please stop with the raps threads

There's 25! different unique topics on the first page of the general board and only 1 raptor thread. If a raptor thread bugs you this much why open it and feel the need to post?

[SFour]

Kyle Lowry: 14.9 PPG on 39% from the field and 30% from three.
Demar Derozan: 21.7 PPG on 40% from the field and 21% from three.

That's how their best players have performed in the Playoffs for their career. Not to mention they've never beaten a good team in a Playoff series. Miami was a mediocre team missing their best player. The Pacers were a mediocre team who flat out choked in Game 7. Last years Bucks were young and inexperienced, and missing Jabari. The Raptors have a lot to prove in the Playoffs this year. They could run into very formidable teams with elite superstars like the Sixers, Wizards, or Cavs in the early rounds of the Playoffs.

Miami had Wade, Pacers had PG, Bucks had Giannis...all of these guys were on fire. PG and Giannis were in superstar mode. Funny how you discredit these teams but then state that Sixers and Wizards have elite superstars.