The memes are out in full force this time of year. Fans and detractors, uniting in their mockery of a team that seemed ready to change their ways. The breakthrough the Toronto Raptors have been waiting for had finally arrived.
Yet suddenly, Toronto finds itself ready to go the way of the dinosaurs for another season.
They told me all season these Raptors were different 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/Ae2Og9zJBz
— 73-9 and they LIED (@CuffsTheLegend) May 4, 2018
The Raptors aren't out of the race yet. But they find themselves in a 2-0 hole in the Eastern Conference semifinals, with the next games in Cleveland.
At this point, it's hard to envision the team getting past LeBron James and the Cavaliers.
That portends ominous things for the team's future.
S.O.S. (Save Our Season)
First, the team must deal with the matter at hand. While their backs are against the ropes, the Raptors aren't on life support just yet. The main thing holding them back from making this is a series is their inability to stop James. He went off for 43 points and 14 assists in Cleveland's Thursday night victory. Toronto was supposed to have stocked some defensive stoppers on their roster, but none of them are coming through right now. If that leakage isn't fixed, the team goes extinct.
But the team also needs help from within. They need better coaching and decisions from Dwane Casey, who is struggling under pressure.
They need their superstars to step their games up to the next level. After all, Fred VanFleet shouldn't be attempting game-winning shots, as he did during Game 1.
Most of all, the team needs to find a mental edge its been missing for the past several years. Without it, getting over the hump is a mere impossibility.
What happens when Toronto sinks
Odds are high that the Toronto won't be seeing the Eastern Conference Finals this year. In fact, the home fans might not be seeing the team again this year. Cleveland could very well sweep them. That will prompt questions, some of which the Raptors will struggle to answer over the course of the summer.
The truth of the matter is that this team is on a three-year trajectory, originally slated to point skywards. Serge Ibaka and Kyle Lowry both re-upped with the team for that amount of time last summer. DeMar DeRozan also has multiple years left on his deal. Toronto will almost certainly be above the salary cap next season, barring an unforeseen opt out from Ibaka. They also hold no picks in the 2018 NBA Draft due to a past trade with the Brooklyn Nets.
Toronto can't stay the course anymore. Yet the Raptors don't have a choice.
