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Toronto Raptors: Five biggest what ifs in franchise history

By Andrew Fulton

Tracy McGrady (L) consoles Vince Carter after Carter fouled out against the Charlotte Hornets April 27, 1999. Kevin Willis (r) looks on dejectedly. (BERNARD WEIL/TORONTO STAR) (Photo by Bernard Weil/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
Tracy McGrady (L) consoles Vince Carter after Carter fouled out against the Charlotte Hornets April 27, 1999. Kevin Willis (r) looks on dejectedly. (BERNARD WEIL/TORONTO STAR) (Photo by Bernard Weil/Toronto Star via Getty Images) /
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What If JV Hits That Put Back?

As the clock ticked down into its final seconds of game one against Cleveland, the Raptors had one more chance to put away the Cavaliers after they gave away a double-digit first half lead.

A flurry of attempts from Fred VanVleet, Jonas Valanciunas, DeMar DeRozan and CJ Miles all missed. Misses that left Raptors fans fuming. Questioning. What if? 

What if VanVleet, a 41-percent three-point shooter, who had made several clutch shots this season, (see Detroit) had made that three?

What if JV makes the point-blank bunny, mere feet away from the rim?

Well, the Raps are up 1-0. They have momentum. They have confidence.

Do the Raptors take the series if JV et al make those easy shots? Who knows? Is this wishful thinking? Possibly.

This isn’t the Cavs of yesteryear with LeBron mockingly spinning the ball on his hand. This isn’t the Cavs giving the Raptors two wins and then breaking their backs with resounding and complete series’ wins.

This Cavs team had less depth, was much weaker defensively and lacked consistent, secondary scoring threats. In short, they were a beatable team that was being carried by the greatest player on the planet, playing at a level rarely seen.

If the Raps slay the dragon, who knows what happens in the next round. Boston is an incredibly well coached team, with a dedicated and disciplined young core. They can play defence and can spread the floor. It would have been a great match up.

But I’m willing to bet the Raptors go the distance in the Eastern Conference Finals. They give a Boston team, sans Kyrie and Hayward, a real run.

No one in their right mind believes the team from Toronto beats the Warriors (they probably get swept), but a Finals appearance could’ve been a real possibility.

Might this success be enough to convince Masai Ujiri that the Casey/DeRozan/Lowry core can win? Would it have prevented him from making the trade with San Antonio? If,(and it is a big if) beat the Cavs and can take Boston to seven or win that series, this summer probably plays out very different.

Now whether you feel that’s a good thing is an entirely different question.