Toronto Raptors: Major Changes Need To Be Made

This Team Has Reached Its Ceiling

You never want to overreact to one bad game, but when your team chooses “die” in a do-or-die playoff game, laying down and getting massacred by 31 points to a good but not great team, it’s hard to believe this roster, as currently constructed, can compete.

For Ujiri, it’s time to finally rebuild this team — from the ground up, if need be.

Keep in mind, after the Rudy Gay trade in 2013, everyone was expecting the Raptors to tank. Nobody thought they’d rise to the top half of the standings and as Toronto became the pleasant surprise of the East, Ujiri’s hand was almost forced to stick with the current core.

The third-seeded Raptors fell in the first round to the Brooklyn Nets, but the series went to seven games, Air Canada Centre was rocking and basketball in Canada had been revitalized.

When the Raptors re-signed Lowry to a four-year, $48 million extension that summer, it was one of the greatest free agency victories in the history of the franchise. Here was the leader of this Raptors team, coming off a career season, who wanted to stay in Toronto.

Flash forward a few months and that sense of optimism has shriveled into the overwhelming feeling that this team has reached its ceiling.

That seems silly to say about a team that just won a franchise-record 49 games, but what other conclusion is there to draw after yet another disappointing end to the season? This rabid, loyal fan base deserves better than being subjected to this:

Injuries played a part, but DeRozan’s midseason absence wasn’t crippling and everyone was healthy for the start of the playoffs.

Lowry, who was supposed to be this team’s leader, mailed in the series. Until his 21-point, eight-assist Game 4, most of which came in garbage time with the team already down by 20, Lowry had averaged 9.3 points and 5.0 assists per game on 23.8 percent shooting. Even worse, in the decisive Game 4, Lowry racked up three fouls and one technical foul in the first quarter. He blew it.

DeRozan did his best to carry the offensive load, but he shot less than 38 percent from the floor in two of the four games. Jonas Valanciunas was abused inside by Marcin Gortat and Nene, Sixth Man of the Year Lou Williams struggled with his shot and nobody wanted to play any sort of defense.

If you truly believe this team hasn’t reached its ceiling already, you haven’t been paying very close attention.

Next: The Head Coach