Toronto Raptors: 15 greatest NBA playoff moments
The Toronto Raptors have made the playoffs 10 times since the franchise’s inception. During that period they’ve had some great moments, but what are the top 15?
Over the past few years, the Toronto Raptors have become a postseason staple. Toronto has made the playoffs six consecutive seasons, tied for the fourth-longest consecutive streak in the NBA.
Over the past three seasons, Toronto ranks fourth in playoff games and wins. Although the Raptors’ success has been the butt of many jokes, statistically, they have been one of the most consistent playoff teams in recent history.
That didn’t always use to be the case. The Raptors made the playoffs in just five of their first 18 seasons as a franchise. They made it out of the first round just once during that span.
A relatively new franchise, the Raptors playoff history can be divided into three segments: The Vince Carter era, the Chris Bosh era and the Kyle Lowry era (sorry to DeMar DeRozan, who just had his name taken off this list).
With Carter, the Raptors made it out of the first round only once. The farthest the team reached was Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, in an epic back-and-forth battle with the soon-to-be Eastern Conference Champion Philadelphia 76ers.
The Bosh years were dark. Toronto didn’t win a playoff series and won only three playoff games total during his seven years with the franchise.
The Kyle Lowry era has seen five playoff appearances, four series wins and an Eastern Conference Finals appearance. The team has underperformed their seeding on a couple of occasions. However, it’s unequivocally the most successful period in franchise history.
It’s also still being written. With Kyle Lowry, Pascal Siakam and Kawhi Leonard now on the roster, Toronto has its best roster in franchise history. The team is set up better to win now, more than ever before.
But what have been the most successful moments up to this point? We take a look at the greatest moments in Raptors playoff history.