Toronto Raptors: 5 Takeaways From Their Playoff Run

May 23, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Recording artist Drake celebrates after Toronto Raptors score a basket in a 105-99 win over Cleveland Cavaliers in game four of the Eastern conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /

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May 19, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Toronto Raptors guard Cory Joseph (6) dribbles the ball as Cleveland Cavaliers guard Matthew Dellavedova (8) defends during the second quarter in game two of the Eastern conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Role players came up big

While DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry could have used more help in the conference finals, they would not have got there without the depth that Masai Ujiri added this summer and how well they performed in previous rounds.

Cory Joseph, Bismack Biyombo, Patrick Patterson, DeMarre Carroll and Norman Powell all had their moments in the sun throughout the playoffs and helped carry the team while their all stars struggled.

Jonas Valanciunas also had a huge playoffs while he was healthy, but it doesn’t feel quite right to lump him in with the other role players.

Being asked to do more than they should likely wore out the role players in these playoffs as was evidenced by the tired legs and fatigue shown in the conference finals.

But with DeRozan, and to a lesser extent Lowry, performing as net negatives in the early rounds, the Raptors surely would have been an early exit if not for their outstanding depth.

Next: Home sweet home

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