Hoops Habit
Fansided

NBA Playoff Power Rankings: The final countdown of the season

By Corey Rausch

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 12: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the first quarter against the Houston Rockets in Game Five of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 12, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 12: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the first quarter against the Houston Rockets in Game Five of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 12, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 9
Next
(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

team. 81. . . Previous: 3rd. Toronto Raptors. 6

Last Week: Lost to Boston 111-89, Beat/2OT Boston 125-122, Lost to Boston 92-87

Defending champions rarely come out and defend their title with as much fervor and pride as these Toronto Raptors did. Especially after losing two of their starting contributors to free agency. Until the final game of their defense, they embodied adaptability and the “next man up” mentality.

Ultimately the matchup against the Boston Celtics was just too much to overcome. Toronto dropped a total of five games out of the 19 they played in Orlando. All were against the Celtics. Kyle Lowry could have produced more in the final game of the season, but he should be close to beyond reproach at this point. He hustled till the very end.

The Raptors have quite the offseason ahead of them. Pascal Siakam looked like a perennial All-Star in the regular season, averaging 22.9 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game on shooting splits of .453/.359/.792. It was rough overall in the postseason but sickening against the Celtics, where he dropped to 14.9 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists a night on shooting splits of .382/.125/.727. Proving he is not a true number one option as the team transitions into an offseason of change is something of an entanglement.

Marc Gasol, Serge Ibaka and Fred VanVleet are free agents as soon as the league year ends, just as Siakam’s massive extension is kicking in. Given the questions surrounding the salary cap next season and the play of Ibaka and VanVleet this season specifically bringing all three back seems unlikely. Toronto was one of the best stories of the season but it is tough to piece out the next chapter.