The Toronto Raptors were supposed to be a better team ahead of a playoffs rematch with LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers this year, but nothing in their Eastern Conference Finals supported that type of expectation. Just like last year, the Raptors were mercilessly swept by Cleveland in the second round even though the Raptors brandished a better defense, a more 3-point oriented offense, and one of the strongest benches in the league. None of those mattered in the face of LeBron, who has made a habit of vaporizing the Raptors in the postseason.
For Toronto head coach Dwane Casey, the only thing that did not align for the Raptors over the past few seasons was that they were always running into a brick wall that is LeBron James.
Here’s what Dwane Casey had to say about that while speaking to the media following the Raptors’ 128-93 loss in Game 4:
"We want to be the organization who knocks that gate down. For whatever reason, we got the unlucky draw every year of going against him."
Dwane Casey on facing LeBron James in the playoffs three straight years pic.twitter.com/HrKCrTvT9F
— NBA TV (@NBATV) May 8, 2018
While Casey admitted that LeBron James has been the biggest thorn in the side of Toronto, he still offered some optimism for the Raptors that LeBron is going to slow down at some point and when that time comes, Casey believes that the East is for the Raptors to rule.
In the four games they played against the Raptors in the series, James averaged almost a triple-double of 34.0 points, 11.3 assists, and 8.3 rebounds while he also shot 55.3 percent from the field. The Cavs will next face the winner of the Boston Celtics-Philadelphia 76ers series, while the Raptors head to an offseason full of uncertainties.
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