Dear Toronto Raptors Fans,
The past year has been nothing short of painful for the Raptors. Since the 2019-2020 NBA season was suspended, it’s been all downhill for the Raptors. As it stands, Toronto is 20-32, not sure of which direction to go. With the Raptors on pace for their worst season since Masai Ujiri joined the organization, Toronto is in a position they have not been in for almost a decade. From March of 2020, to where we stand currently the Raptors have been frustrating in many different ways. From the moves made, to the on-court effort, to the false hope, and everything in between, the past 13 months have been frustrating in ways that haven’t been seen in years. However, despite all the frustration, I remain hopeful with this team, and I aim to leave Raptors fans with a similar sentiment.
The Toronto Raptors: A Year of Frustrations
Silencing the Critics
Going into the 2019-2020 season, despite winning the NBA Championship, most of the NBA world expected a major step back for the Raptors. Losing Kawhi Leonard will do that. However, despite the doubters, the Raptors finished second in the Eastern Conference when the regular season came to a halt. Before the season was suspended, the 2019-2020 Raptors team was one of the most fun ever. This team was made up of characters who played with heart and soul. From exciting rookies, to overlooked free agents, to blossoming superstars, this team was exciting to watch.
Pascal Siakam built on his Most Improved Player season, selected as an All-Star starter and All-NBA Second Team. Kyle Lowry refused to regress, remaining the team’s leader, showing that age is just a number. Fred VanVleet continued to develop, making a case to be a highly sought-after free agent in 2020. Serge Ibaka and Marc Gasol provided veteran leadership and unmatched team chemistry while producing in the big man role. Finally, Terence Davis and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson showed why teams should have paid closer attention to them. Davis being an undrafted rookie that would go on to be All-Rookie Second team. Rondae, who was passed over in free agency, was that spark off the bench.
Prior to the season suspension, the Raptors were one of the top teams in the league. They boasted the best defense in terms of points allowed. Also, they had numerous games that are franchise highlights. They set the franchise record for the largest comeback against the Dallas Mavericks. They had another double-digit comeback against the Indiana Pacers. Finally, they set the franchise record win streak, winning 15 games in a row. However, despite the Raptors’ phenomenal regular season play, their play in the bubble left much to be desired.
Bubble Struggles
At the start of the bubble, the Raptors went 7-1 to finish off the regular season, with their only loss coming to the Boston Celtics. With that, the Raptors were ready for their first-round matchup with the Brooklyn Nets. Despite sweeping the series and setting a record for bench points, the Raptors showed early signs of shakiness, especially Siakam. There were multiple times where games against an injury-riddled Nets team were far closer than they should have been.
With that, the Raptors moved onto the second round to face Boston. The Celtics had also swept their first-round opponent, making quick work of the Philadelphia 76ers. And it was there, against the Celtics, that the Raptors turned into the Raptors of previous years. They became that Toronto team that was so great during the regular season but just could not get it done in the playoffs. The team owned by Paul Pierce and then LeBron James. A team of vanishing players and head-scratching moves from the head coach had returned for Toronto. It was a year of defying expectations that went unfulfilled with a second-round game seven loss to a bitter rival. And the offseason would not fare much better.
Off-Season Woes
This offseason was a chance for the Raptors to re-tool the roster for the following years. However, some risky definitely did not work out in Toronto’s favor. It was well-known that if Giannis Antetokounmpo did not sign the super-max extension with the Milwaukee Bucks, Toronto would be one of the main suitors to try and pry him away from Milwaukee. In doing so, Toronto low-balled key pieces such as Ibaka and Gasol. And Hollis-Jefferson would end up just walking as well. Losing those three and replacing them with Aron Baynes and Alex Len was less than ideal. However, there was hope that Baynes and Len would be able to blossom into solid role players for the Raptors. And if we could get Giannis in 2021, we’d be looking like contenders again. We would have that superstar that would return us to a championship-caliber team. And then Giannis signed the extension with Milwaukee.
The New Toronto Raptors
This season has been a disaster from start to finish. There was a time where the Raptors looked like the Raptors. They finally got to a .500 record (17-17) before going 1-13 in the month March while the team was entirely thrown off by COVID-19 exposures. Toronto was looking like they could make the playoffs and be a relatively high seed. Now, it seems as though the tank is the more realistic decision. The true shame of this year is that it has overshadowed some great moments. VanVleet setting the franchise record for points in a game. And Chris Boucher would be in regular conversations about being the Most Improved Player if the team was more successful. This year has been bad. So what do we do now?
What Now?
So Raptors fans, that was a lot of pain I just had you re-live. So where do we go from here? I don’t know. I have no idea what the right moves are for the team. However, I also have learned to trust this organization to make the right moves. Masai Ujiri and Bobby Webster are some of, if not, the best executives in the NBA. We have great young talent in Gary Trent Jr., Malachi Flynn, and OG Anunoby. I don’t know what Toronto is going to do, but I do know that the future is bright for this organization. This year is a reset, the Raptors will be back.
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