NBA Power Rankings: Playoff Edition

<p>Anyone who has been paying attention to the NBA for a few years can tell you that the 2016 NBA Playoffs are pretty enormous for the Toronto Raptors. Though I would argue it is based on a small sample, the Raptors have “earned” the reputation as a team that simply can’t prosper in the postseason, and after a 56-win campaign, expectations are sky-high.</p> <p>First and foremost, this has been a very nice season for Toronto. The Raptors have a top-five offense in the NBA led by the perimeter duo of Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan, and they have achieved that while basically getting nothing from their big free agent acquisition in DeMarre Carroll. Toronto does play at the second-slowest pace in the league, leading some more casual observers to see their point totals and balk a bit at their offensive greatness, but the Raptors can flat-out score and they can do so in a number of ways.</p> <p>The defensive end is a bit more troublesome, though, and that is where they need a healthy Carroll to have an impact. Toronto is one of two “contenders” that rank outside the top 10 of the league in defensive rating (joining the Oklahoma City Thunder), and the frontcourt issues with Jonas Valanciunas and Luis Scola aren’t going away. It is fantastic to have Bismack Biyombo’s rim protection and athleticism off the bench, but Dwane Casey will have a delicate balance when it comes to using the offensive-minded Valanciunas at opportune times.</p> <p>I’ll say this. I don’t really <em>believe</em> in Toronto in the way that I do any team above them on this list. However, the Raptors are still real in the sense that they would be a favorite over any non-Cleveland team in the East, and it is tough to avoid rooting for a team like this to finally get over the hump with a playoff series victory.</p>. (56-26). Previous: . Toronto Raptors. 6. team. 81