NBA Playoffs 2013: Ranking The 5 Best Performances in Raptors’ History

On Friday, April 26, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment installed Tim Leiweke as its new CEO.  His job will be to oversee a number of sporting outfits, but most importantly the Toronto Raptors, who have advanced to the playoffs just five times since joining the NBA in the 1995-96 season.

It is hoped that under his guidance and expertise, the team will end its current five-year playoff drought and become a contender as early as the 2013-14 season.

As fans hope that the team is headed in the right direction, here is a look back at some of the Raptors’ most memorable playoff moments.

5. So close: Vince Carter pump-faked, shook off his defender and launched an open, slightly off-balance jumper at the buzzer.

It was Game 7 of the 2001 Eastern Conference semifinals and that basket would have carried the Raptors into the conference finals. Instead, the Philadelphia 76ers eked out an 88-87 victory and advanced.

The performance by Carter in that game was notable and controversial because he was granted permission by the team to attend his graduation at the University of North Carolina that morning. Carter then boarded a private jet to get to Philadelphia for the opening tip.

Carter may have extended himself too much that day, but still, there he was at the end with a chance to win the game.

4. The ultimate challenge: After a four-year drought, the Raptors returned to the playoffs in 2006-07. Their opponent was none other than the New Jersey Nets, who boasted a lineup that included Jason Kidd, Richard Jefferson, and of course, Carter.

The Raptors won the Atlantic Division with a record of 47-35 and were given the opportunity to now show Carter that they were doing just fine without him. It wasn’t looking good for the Raptors, who fell behind 3-1 in the series. However, they withstood 30 points from Carter in Game 5 and used a team effort to fend off elimination.

The Raptors then headed to New Jersey for Game 6, which would amount to one of the more heartbreaking losses in franchise history.

With the Nets leading by a single point, Jefferson robbed the Raptors of a chance at the go-ahead bucket in the final seconds.

It looked as though the series was headed back to Toronto for Game 7 but the pass, an attempted entry feed to Chris Bosh, who was open under the basket, needed to be just a little bit higher.

3. Statement game: The Raptors made their playoff debut in the 1999-00 season after posting what was then a franchise-high 45 wins to grab the sixth seed.

Although they were swept in the best-of-5 series against the New York Knicks, Tracy McGrady made a name for himself in Game 1 by scoring 25 points and hauling in 10 rebounds in 39 minutes as the Raptors were narrowly defeated 92-88.

Tracy McGrady left Toronto for the sunshine in Florida after the 1999-00 season. (Photo Credit: Keith Allison, Flickr.com)

Combined with the efforts of Carter, the young duo almost came away with a victory, falling just short in losing 84-83 in Game 2.

McGrady, who did not want to play in the shadows of Carter, was sent to the Orlando Magic in a sign-and-trade deal prior to the following season and to this day, fans wonder how far that tandem could have carried the franchise.

2. Vinsanity vs. The Answer: In the spring of 2001, it was a battle of superstars when the Raptors met the 76ers in the second round of the playoffs. Allen Iverson tallied 50-plus points twice in the series, which coincided with victories in Game 2 and Game 5.

The best-of-7 set shifted to Toronto for Game 3 where Carter responded to Iverson’s scoring outburst in Game 2 by dropping 50 points–which remains his postseason career-high–to lift the Raptors to a 2-1 series lead.

Ultimately the 76ers, who were the No. 1 seed that season, prevailed on their home court in Game 7.

1. First and only playoff series win: In the 2000-01 season, the Raptors finished in fifth place in the Eastern Conference with a mark of 47-35, setting up a first round best-of-5 tilt with the Knicks for the second-straight year.

The Raptors faced elimination in Game 4, but a 100-93 victory at home forced a decisive Game 5 at Madison Square Garden.

Entering the fourth quarter of the series finale, the Raptors held an 11-point advantage, and after battling through what is arguably the most intense 12 minutes in team history, they held on to win 93-89.

Carter led the way with 27 points in 48 minutes of action as all five starters notched at least 10 points, however another key performer in the fourth quarter was point guard Alvin Williams.

Williams knocked down a clutch jumper and sank two free throws in the final minute to secure the win for the Raptors, who advanced to the conference semifinals for the lone time in franchise history.