The Kings of the North versus The King
2014-15 Season: What Could Have Been the Dream Season
Recognizing the team’s rising contender status and all the young guys about to get paid, Bosh opted out of his deal to re-sign a team-friendly four-year deal worth $60 million. Lowry is re-signed to a deal worth $12 million AAV.
With all the deals in place, the Raptors part ways with Davis and Johnson and sign cheaper options up front: Tyler Hansbrough and James Johnson. In the 2014 draft, the Raptors added depth at guard by taking Rodney Hood.
The Raptors began the season as the second favourite to come out of the East behind only the Cleveland Cavaliers, where James has returned to.
Toronto would get off to a hot start and lead the East in the standings all the way to the All-Star break. Bosh, Lowry, and DeRozan are the new “Big Three” of the East. Harris is the best fourth option on any team. And Gobert is beginning to show serious potential.
During the 2015 NBA All-Star game, the trio is selected. But following the festivities, Bosh is rushed to a Toronto hospital and ruled out for the season due to blood clots in his lungs.
The loss of Bosh is both a curse and a blessing-in-disguise for Toronto. Casey would implement the “small ball” rotations with Harris moving to power forward and various lineup changes with Hood, Johnson, and Quincy Acy rounding out the frontcourt.
Toronto would slip from the standings but still finish third, just one game behind the Cleveland Cavaliers. They would beat the Bucks in six games in the first round, but get dominated by James and the Cavs in the semifinals and bow out in five games.
Raptors Nation keeps looking back to this season as one of the biggest “what ifs” and a healthy Bosh could’ve pushed to the team to their first conference finals appearance.
2015-16 Season: With or Without Bosh
Despite Bosh’s lingering condition and getting dismantled by James in the playoffs, fans remained enthused for the 2015-16 season. The team re-signed Harris to a new four-year deal at $12 million AAV.
With the 22nd pick in the 2015 draft, the Raptors took Bobby Portis, a power forward from Arkansas. Media speculated this could have been an “insurance policy” in case Bosh is unable to play again.
The season began similarly to last: the Raptors got off to a great start. Bosh played like he didn’t miss a beat. And together with Lowry, DeRozan, and Harris, the Raptors had the highest-scoring quartet in the league. Gobert and Hood made strides in their development.
In a case of deja vu, the Raptors were once again first in the conference heading to the All-Star break. And just like last year, Bosh became diagnosed with the same issue following the break.
In spite of his insistence, team physicians advised Bosh to consider retirement. The team shut him down for the remainder of the season.
Without Bosh, the Raptors still managed to finish atop the Eastern Conference edging the Cavaliers. As the top seed, the Raptors defeated the Detroit Pistons in a grueling six-game series. They upended the Hawks in the semifinals in six to reach their first conference finals where they lost, once again, to James and the Cavs but in six games this time.