Coming off a 114-105 victory at the hand of the young Minnesota Timberwolves, the Toronto Raptors find themselves awaiting their biggest test of the season. Friday’s matchup at the Air Canada Centre features arguably the league’s best player, LeBron James, who has his team playing quality basketball since the firing of former head coach David Blatt. With a healthy Kyrie Irving and a newly-found contributing Channing Frye (scoring a big 15 points in 18 minutes off the bench in the Cavaliers’ victory against Charlotte on Wednesday), Cleveland sits a confident 3 games ahead of Toronto in the Eastern Conference standings.
We all know who the Cavaliers are, they are the clear team to beat and the defending Champions of the East. Sitting at number 2 is the Toronto Raptors. Who exactly are they? On the other end of the spectrum, in the West, also sitting at number 2, we find the San Antonio Spurs who are undoubtedly in contention to be in the league’s “big dance” come the spring. However, the Raptors continue to hold the label as a team missing “It”, as the infamous Paul Pierce put it. They are not feared and they are not respected.
If you look at the facts, again, Toronto is the second best team in its conference, has been playing consistent basketball all season, has two 2-time NBA All Stars in Demar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry, a solid young nucleus around them, as well as some veterans sprinkled in the mix (ala DeMarre Carroll and Luis Scola). Though many of the team’s core have never seen playoff basketball past the first round, everyone in rotation possesses playoff experience. One of them, Corey Joseph, has been to two NBA Finals and has a ring to show for it. Also add the fact that they are on pace to have their best season in franchise history, eclipsing the 50-win mark, while dealing with injuries and a tough road-heavy schedule for most of the year.
Though many Raptors fans have a tough time admitting it, the lack of respect is deserving, for a number of reasons. First of all, as previously touched on, they have not fared well come playoff time. Coming off consecutive First Round Playoff losses, the latter being swept in 4 games by a lower seed, there is no question that this team still has a lot to prove once the regular season is concluded. Though they are having a very good season, the roster does have holes, and having not filled them at the February 18 trade deadline did not add to their chances. However, there is still a chance these holes could be filled, via the waiver wire, as names such as Jason Thompson and Joe Johnson have been thrown around. Thompson could be tossed in the mix at the 4 spot, where the Raptors are relying on aging Luis Scola in the starting lineup, and “Iso-Joe” could give the team some “It”, with his experience and shot-making ability as a role player on a good team.
The Toronto Raptors are a very good basketball team. That is who they are. Their core is not young, but it is not old either. All Stars Kyle Lowry and Demar Derozan, as well as “Junk Yard Dog 2.0” DeMarre Carroll are in their primes, while other key pieces, such as Jonas Valanciunas, Terrence Ross and Corey Joseph have yet to reach that point in their career, but are making positive strides towards it. They have role players such as Patrick Patterson, Bismack Biyombo and James Johnson who are doing their jobs, especially well as of late. They are a team built for the future, with young assets, valuable draft picks and cap space opening up as early as this summer. They could flip some assets for stars, or take their hand at free agency with possible targets such as Al Horford, Paul Gasol or everyone’s favorite, Kevin Durant, come season’s end. The Raptors are undoubtedly a franchise on the rise and should content for titles in the future, if all goes according to plan.
Are they built to win now? Yes. Are they built to contend for a title now? No. Is it possible they exceed expectations? Crazier things have happened. I’m pretty sure Masai Ujiri did not expect the Rudy Gay trade to turn the Raptors into a top-tier playoff team a few years ago, either. This is why Friday’s matchup is one to watch very closely. Cleveland is healthy, LeBron James says he feels “10 times better” than last year, his team is playing great basketball, and with the exception of a few bad losses (Minnesota before the break and a stinker against a short-handed Bulls squad), the Raptors are a red hot team. This is an opportunity for them to make a statement. An identity statement. A chance to tell the NBA world it’s not a lock to see the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA finals. I know it and I think the players know it. Get your popcorn ready.
