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*My longest deep sigh ever*
The Toronto Raptors are the NBA's ultimate tease, yet no one seems to mind. Next year, Dwane Casey will still be the head coach. DeMar DeRozan will still be listed a top 5 shooting guard. Kyle Lowry will still be voted the East's starting point guard in next year's all star game, despite having playoff games where he barely outscores Skip Bayless' high school average. The regular season happens and claims of the improved Raptors dethroning the Cavs begin. Then the playoffs happen and all those claims along with the Raptor's talent disappears. But why?
Theory #1 Star's Playing Style: DeMar DeRozan has the ideal NBA shooting guard's game, in 2007. DeRozan took 624 more mid-range shots than threes this past regular season, for comparison Jimmy Butler took 226. DeMar still went on to average 27.3ppg for the season, but that number dropped to 19ppg in the playoffs. Bully-ball iso DeMar DeRozan gives NBA fans Kobe goosebumps when he's hot, but those hot moments don't seem consistently sustainable in the modern-day playoffs. Threes don't seem to be the answer either, at least not for DeRozan's backcourt mate Kyle Lowry. Lowry launched 7.8 threes a game this regular season on his way to averaging a career-high 22.4ppg. Both those numbers dipped to 5.3 and 13.0 once the playoffs began. Lowry is still getting the looks he wants from deep. It's the foul calls that have stopped coming. In the Raptor's playoff losses Lowry has only attempted 5 free throws, while in their lone win Lowry went to the line 9 times. It seems like Lowry and DeRozan can both borrow some of the others' game come playoffs.
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Theory #2 The Drake Effect: Let's take a look at Drake's history with basketball teams. Drake participated in a Kentucky Wildcats shoot around in the 2014 season. The Wildcats haven't made it a Final Four since that season. Drake is an open Golden State Warriors fan. You know what's coming. The Warriors blew a 3-1 lead in last year's finals. Lebron James cryptically tweeted Drake lyrics on January 31st. Lebron had immediate success in February, but had only his 2nd month ever of 10 or more losses in March. James, smartly, countered the Drake effect before the playoffs started by posting an Instagram story of him listening to Kendrick. So Raptors fans, resign Lowry and have faith in Derozan's max-deal because it's not their fault. The Raptor's playoff struggles are the doings of Toronto's very own, Drake.
Whether the blame goes to playing style, Drake, or the Monstars one thing is for sure; the Raptors aren't the same team in the postseason. NBA and Raptor fans alike just want to know why and see it change.