How will Raptors determine success in playoffs?

CLEVELAND, OH - MARCH 21: Dwane Casey of the Toronto Raptors reacts to a call during the second half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena on March 21, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Raptors 132-129. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - MARCH 21: Dwane Casey of the Toronto Raptors reacts to a call during the second half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena on March 21, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Raptors 132-129. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images)

The Raptors have only one matter to settle during their final four games of the season, namely,  will they be the top seed? That’s great, but what would success look like in the post-season?

Every team in the NBA has fans who are passionate in their belief that “This is going to be our year!” Most of them are dreaming in Technicolor and widescreen. There aren’t more than eight teams in any year which have a realistic shot at hoisting the league’s championship trophy. [20-second timeout: It’s called the Larry O’Brien Trophy. Unlike the Stanley Cup, the NBA’s cup has the name recognition of a Hollywood B-lister. C’mon Adam Silver – start a re-naming process, and get a trophy with some cachet.]

CLEVELAND, OH – APRIL 3: LeBron James
CLEVELAND, OH – APRIL 3: LeBron James

By any yardstick you care to apply, the regular season has been a huge success. What about the playoffs? What do the Raptors have to do in order to have their post-season be viewed as something other than a disappointment?

OAKLAND, CA – JUNE 15: Stephen Curry
OAKLAND, CA – JUNE 15: Stephen Curry

ECF or bust!

For me, it’s simple. Anything less than a trip to the Conference Finals would be a massive disappointment. That means the Raps must win their first two playoff rounds against…best guess…Milwaukee, then Philadelphia.

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Which team will try to ruin the Raptors hope for their first-ever chance to win the title? I’m not going out on even a tiny limb when I suggest the Cleveland Cavaliers may not lose four games on their express ride to the Eastern finals. They will make short work of the Miami Heat. However Miami won’t leave without taking a pound of flesh from the Cavs – the Heat are bruisers – which may prove important to Toronto. Cleveland will then face Boston, who are likely to be exhausted after needing seven games to punch out Washington. That’s assuming that happens at all. The Celtics won’t have Kyrie Irving or Gordon Hayward or the useful Daniel Theis. The Wiz haven’t played at all well for weeks, otherwise I’d pick them. The Cavs won’t let either team take them to six games.

And that sets up the dream/nightmare matchup we Raps fans have wanted ever since the Cavs pushed our team aside last year. Unless Toronto knocks Cleveland out this post-season, thus ending LeBron’s seven straight trips to the NBA finals, the playoffs will have been a failure.