For the Toronto Raptors, what happens in the regular season does not matter. It’s all about the playoffs.
The big question is can Toronto beat the Celtics and/or Cavs in the playoffs?
The Raptors are a better team than they were last season, and currently, have the best record in the Eastern Conference. However, if the Raptors want to make a long run in the playoffs, Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan need to be at their best.
In the 2016-2017 season, DeRozan went from 27.3 ppg in the regular season to 22.4 ppg in the playoffs. As for Lowry, he went from 22.4 ppg in the regular season to 15.8 ppg in the playoffs.
All that being said, according to ESPN’s Max Kellerman, he believes the Raptors can beat the Cavaliers in the playoffs.
Here is what Kellerman had to say on ESPN’s First Take today: