A look at the Toronto Raptors’ opponent for the Eastern Conference Finals, Round 3 of the 2016 NBA Playoffs
Just getting out of the first round in the NBA Playoffs was an achievement for the Toronto Raptors considering the history of the franchise in the postseason. Coming into the 2016 NBA Playoffs, they’d never won a seven-game series in the history of the team. They changed that with a win over the Indiana Pacers, but the No. 2 seed in the East had much bigger plans than just shedding that baggage.
Facing off with the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference semifinals, what started out as a fun, tightly contested series turned ugly quickly—though it remained tightly contested. Injuries to Jonas Valanciunas for the Raptors and Hassan Whiteside for the Heat really put a different light on the series and changed the complexion over it all.
In the absence of their big center, though, the All-Star backcourt for the Raptors in Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan stepped up in a huge way as they put the team on their backs on numerous occasions. That ultimately led to a Game 7 on Sunday at the Air Canada Centre and Toronto made history again as they were able to get the win and advance to their first ever Eastern Conference Finals.
Now the question some fans might be asking is just who the Raptors will be facing in the East Finals. They’ll have a tough task for sure as the Cleveland Cavaliers will be the Raptors’ Round 3 opponent.
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