Three takeaways from Toronto Raptors unbelievable Game 7 victory

The Toronto Raptors won Game 7 against the Philadelphia 76ers on a crazy buzzer beater. What were the three biggest takeaways from the contest?

The best game. The best player. The best moment in franchise history. The Toronto Raptors just completed one of the craziest playoff series in a long time, a back-and-forth seven-game battle with the Raptors prevailing.

It was a hard-nosed defensive battle that saw both teams miss a plethora of shots. Toronto controlled most of the game, but in the end, it was essentially a coin toss who would win.

The difference? One team had Kawhi Leonard. The other did not.

As great of a moment, as it is, they won’t be celebrating for long. Toronto moves on to the Eastern Conference Finals, and now, will have to face the 60-win Milwaukee Bucks.

But before we go there, let’s enjoy the moment, and take a look at the three biggest takeaways from a thrilling Game 7 victory:

A historic moment

The Toronto Raptors franchise has never had a moment like this. They’ve had success, they’ve won big-time games, but they’ve never done this. For the time being, this is the greatest moment in franchise history.

The shot also helps cement Leonard’s place as the best Raptor of all time. If you believe greatest Raptor should belong to a player with more career achievements and longevity, that’s fair. But the BEST player to ever wear a Raptor uniform is 2018-2019 Kawhi Leonard.

No matter what happens next, Raptor fans should enjoy this moment. Success is hard to find in this league, and what happened on Sunday night is truly special.

What a slugfest

Due to the hype and player nerves, often times Game 7s aren’t a great on-court product. For most of this game, both team’s struggled to generate consistent offense.

The Raptors were ultra-aggressive blitzing the pick-and-roll, particularly against Butler. As a result, the 76ers offense looked disconnected and chaotic throughout the game. It seemed like Philly was constantly against the clock, barely getting a shot up before the clock buzzed.

On the other end, Toronto couldn’t buy a basket. They finished 7-27 from three (26-percent) on relatively decent looks. Players not named Serge Ibaka went 4-23 from beyond the arc.

Ultimately, the Raptors won, not due to their shooting abilities, but the number of shots they got up. Toronto attempted 21 more shots than the Philadelphia as the Raptors won the battle on the offensive glass 15-5 and won the turnover battle 9-14.

Here come the Bucks

As great as this moment was, the Raptors haven’t even made it to the finals yet. Toronto’s reward for having the greatest moment in franchise history is a 60-win Bucks team who will be well rested heading into the third round.

Toronto has some questions to answer before round three. Can Norman Powell get back on the court? Will anyone find a rhythm from outside? Can someone besides Kawhi generate offense? If they don’t answer those questions, this celebration might be short-lived.

But for now, it’s OK to just enjoy the win. The Toronto Raptors are moving on.