The Toronto Raptors’ first-round clash with the Cleveland Cavaliers may have ended with a disappointing 114-102 loss, but there is still plenty to be proud of. Pushing a team with four All-Star-level players— including a former MVP and the reigning Defensive Player of the Year—to Game 7 with two starters sidelined is a massive accomplishment for a young team. It also sent a message to the rest of the league, RJ Barrett believes.
“Obviously, this loss hurts, but I think it also shows the rest of the league, the rest of the world, what it is we’re building here, and that when you see the Toronto Raptors, you’re going to have a dog fight,” Barrett said after the game.
They may have lost, but the Raptors showed that they could compete in the playoffs and that there’s more to come—after what should be a busy offseason that could see some big names on the move.
The Raptors solidified their identity in this series
The Raptors had shown all season long that they were built on defensive versatility, length, and physicality, thriving when they could force opponents into turnovers and score in fastbreak situations. After some late-season struggles, the Raptors had to prove that their identity would hold up in the playoffs.
It did. The Raptors got off to a slow start, losing the first two games and not playing their brand of basketball, but figured things out after that. They finished the series third in total steals and blocks among all playoff teams, and the Cavs turned the ball over 121 times—the most of any team in the playoffs so far. Accordingly, the Raptors finished the series with 154 total points off turnovers, which is the most of any playoff team after the first round.
The playoffs also revealed roster holes
While the Raptors’ strengths were on full display and players like Scottie Barnes and Collin Murray-Boyles left no doubts about their future potential, the series also highlighted some glaring roster holes.
The Raptors have to play hard and excel defensively because they just don’t have the offensive creation or firepower to be a great team on that end of the floor. If they aren’t forcing turnovers and getting transition buckets, their offense struggles, especially with Immanuel Quickley, who is one of their best playmakers and 3-point shooters, sidelined.
So, yes, the Raptors showed the rest of the NBA how scrappy and tough they are, that they can overcome their shortcomings and push a deeper, more talented team to its limits, but the playoffs also showed that they will have to get active in the offseason. If the Raptors want to go from a gritty defensive-minded team to a real playoff threat, they need to add offensive firepower and creation—but also strike a balance between improving offensively and maintaining their identity.
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