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#ProveEm Playoffs – 7 Thoughts Heading Down the Final Stretch

By Jordan Skuse

TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 2: Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) (left) and Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) on the bench prior to game start. Toronto Raptors vs Portland Trail Blazers in 1st half action of NBA regular season play at Air Canada Centre. Toronto Star/Rick Madonik (Rick Madonik/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 2: Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) (left) and Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) on the bench prior to game start. Toronto Raptors vs Portland Trail Blazers in 1st half action of NBA regular season play at Air Canada Centre. Toronto Star/Rick Madonik (Rick Madonik/Toronto Star via Getty Images) /
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Clutch Time Issues

Clutch Time:  During the 4th quarter or overtime, with less than five minutes remaining, and neither team ahead by more than five points

Among current playoff teams in the East, the Raptors rank 6th in winning percentage during clutch games. They trail Cleveland, Boston, Milwaukee, Washington, and Miami.

The first two stand as Toronto’s biggest threat to win the Eastern Conference and the latter three are all very realistic first-round playoff matchups for Toronto. Playoff games are notoriously tighter in terms of point differential, so the face that all three do a better job at winning close games should certainly garner the Raptors’ attention.

The fact of the matter remains that Toronto, for all their success and numerical dominance in terms of wins and losses, hasn’t played many clutch games this season. According to NBA.com, they have played in 28 such games, going 15-13.

Team Rankings (Overall rank / Clutch rank) as of March 1:

  • EFG% – 5th / 23rd
  • 3P% – 20th / 29th
  • AST% – 19th / 29th
  • NETRTG –  3rd / 26th
  • OPP EFG% – 4th / 22nd
  • DEFREB% – 17th / 25th (opponents getting more second-chance opportunities late in games)

The team’s collective dip in clutch situations remains a significant concern for Dwane Casey. Playoff games aren’t typically of the blowout variety, precisely the type of games Toronto has enjoyed for most of the season.

If a championship appearance is to be realized, the Raptors need to figure out a remedy for their clutch time woes, otherwise, they could find themselves on the wrong end of yet another playoff heartbreak.

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