By: Adamo Marinelli
Friday, May 11th, 2018
The Toronto Raptors, who went 59-23 in the 2017-18 NBA regular season, setting a franchise
record for most wins in a season, amongst others were supposed to be a playoff favourite this time
around. Things were supposed to be different. The Raptors were supposed to go to the Eastern
Conference Finals, maybe even the NBA Finals. But the Raptors season came to an abrupt and
all-to-familiar end at the hands of the Cleveland Cavaliers, an Eastern Conference rival.
record for most wins in a season, amongst others were supposed to be a playoff favourite this time
around. Things were supposed to be different. The Raptors were supposed to go to the Eastern
Conference Finals, maybe even the NBA Finals. But the Raptors season came to an abrupt and
all-to-familiar end at the hands of the Cleveland Cavaliers, an Eastern Conference rival.
The Raptors lost 128-93 last night, on Monday, May 7th, 2018, in game four of their second-
round series against the Cavaliers, which marks the third year in a row the Cavaliers eliminated the
Raptors from the playoffs and the second time the Raptors were swept by the Cavaliers.
round series against the Cavaliers, which marks the third year in a row the Cavaliers eliminated the
Raptors from the playoffs and the second time the Raptors were swept by the Cavaliers.
In 2016, Toronto and Cleveland met in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Cavaliers won the
first two games at home and then the Raptors preceded to tie the series up at two games apiece in
Toronto by winning games three and four. With the series all even heading back to Cleveland, the
Cavaliers took advantage of home court advantage and won game five in blowout fashion, 116-78.
Then in game six in Toronto, the Raptors could not force a game seven and were embarrassed
113-87 on their home court. The Cavaliers would end up coming back from a 3-1 game deficit
against the Golden State Warriors to capture the 2016 NBA championship.
first two games at home and then the Raptors preceded to tie the series up at two games apiece in
Toronto by winning games three and four. With the series all even heading back to Cleveland, the
Cavaliers took advantage of home court advantage and won game five in blowout fashion, 116-78.
Then in game six in Toronto, the Raptors could not force a game seven and were embarrassed
113-87 on their home court. The Cavaliers would end up coming back from a 3-1 game deficit
against the Golden State Warriors to capture the 2016 NBA championship.
In 2017, in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, the Raptors and Cavaliers met again. Like last
year, the Cavaliers had home court advantage to start the series and unlike 2016, the Raptors
couldn’t make a series out of it. The Raptors got swept 4-0. The closest game was game 4 in which
the difference was 7 points, 109-102 in favour of the Cavaliers and the largest point margin was 22
points separating the two teams in game two when the Cavaliers pumped the Raptors 125-103.
year, the Cavaliers had home court advantage to start the series and unlike 2016, the Raptors
couldn’t make a series out of it. The Raptors got swept 4-0. The closest game was game 4 in which
the difference was 7 points, 109-102 in favour of the Cavaliers and the largest point margin was 22
points separating the two teams in game two when the Cavaliers pumped the Raptors 125-103.
In the 2018 postseason, like destiny foreshadowed, the Raptors and Cavaliers met again in the
second round of the NBA playoffs. Again, like 2017, the Cavaliers swept the Raptors. And for the
second season in a row, Raptors fans will go into the offseason disappointed and frustrated.
The Cavaliers are the kryptonite of the Raptors. Game one was the closest game of the series,
and the Raptors lost by one point in overtime, 113-112. This marks the first time a Cleveland vs
Toronto series has had a game one in Toronto, as Toronto was the 1 seed of the East and
Cleveland was the 3rd seed yet Toronto suffered a game one loss at home. In game 2, Cleveland
blew out Toronto at the Air Canada Centre, 128-110, and took a 2-0 lead in the series, going back to
Cleveland, where Toronto hasn’t won in nearly 5 years. At this point, Raptors fans knew that this might
be it for Toronto’s season. In game 3, despite being in Cleveland, the Raptors kept it close all game
and could have won it, but due to a missed foul call against Cleveland, the Raptors couldn’t shoot
their free throws and Lebron hit a game-winning fadeaway jumper at the buzzer to go up 3-0 in the
series. Game 4 was similar to game 3, up until the half. The Raptors kept it very close until half,
even had the lead at one point, and were down 2 points for the about 2 minutes and could have tied
it but JV and Demar both missed 3 point shots. Then at the half, they were down 63-47 but it wasn’t
over. But midway through the 3rd quarter, the Cavaliers’ lead was over 30 points and the game
was over. Both teams exchanged points but the final score was 128-93 for the Cavaliers.
second round of the NBA playoffs. Again, like 2017, the Cavaliers swept the Raptors. And for the
second season in a row, Raptors fans will go into the offseason disappointed and frustrated.
The Cavaliers are the kryptonite of the Raptors. Game one was the closest game of the series,
and the Raptors lost by one point in overtime, 113-112. This marks the first time a Cleveland vs
Toronto series has had a game one in Toronto, as Toronto was the 1 seed of the East and
Cleveland was the 3rd seed yet Toronto suffered a game one loss at home. In game 2, Cleveland
blew out Toronto at the Air Canada Centre, 128-110, and took a 2-0 lead in the series, going back to
Cleveland, where Toronto hasn’t won in nearly 5 years. At this point, Raptors fans knew that this might
be it for Toronto’s season. In game 3, despite being in Cleveland, the Raptors kept it close all game
and could have won it, but due to a missed foul call against Cleveland, the Raptors couldn’t shoot
their free throws and Lebron hit a game-winning fadeaway jumper at the buzzer to go up 3-0 in the
series. Game 4 was similar to game 3, up until the half. The Raptors kept it very close until half,
even had the lead at one point, and were down 2 points for the about 2 minutes and could have tied
it but JV and Demar both missed 3 point shots. Then at the half, they were down 63-47 but it wasn’t
over. But midway through the 3rd quarter, the Cavaliers’ lead was over 30 points and the game
was over. Both teams exchanged points but the final score was 128-93 for the Cavaliers.
The only year the Raptors had a real shot at winning the NBA championship other than maybe
2016, when they were in the ECF, was this year in 2018 and like history says, it was the Cleveland
Cavaliers who ended the Raptors season and championship hopes by knocking them out of the
playoffs yet again, for the third year in a row.
2016, when they were in the ECF, was this year in 2018 and like history says, it was the Cleveland
Cavaliers who ended the Raptors season and championship hopes by knocking them out of the
playoffs yet again, for the third year in a row.
Today, the Raptors started their rebuilding process by firing head coach Dwane Casey, who’s
been with the Raptors since 2011. He’s a good coach but can’t get the team to follow a scheme
good enough to beat Lebron James. But Casey can’t be blamed, James is too good. As well as the
coaching change, the Raptors also have several trade rumours in place, though none are confirmed
like Lowry, DeRozan, and a 2019 first round draft pick for Kawhi Leonard, an elite small forward in
the NBA for the San Antonio Spurs.
been with the Raptors since 2011. He’s a good coach but can’t get the team to follow a scheme
good enough to beat Lebron James. But Casey can’t be blamed, James is too good. As well as the
coaching change, the Raptors also have several trade rumours in place, though none are confirmed
like Lowry, DeRozan, and a 2019 first round draft pick for Kawhi Leonard, an elite small forward in
the NBA for the San Antonio Spurs.
Who’s to say what’s gonna happen next in Toronto but hopefully the Raptors will improve and not
get worse in hopes of winning a championship in the next few years. #WetheNorth
get worse in hopes of winning a championship in the next few years. #WetheNorth
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