Raptors need to exorcise demons of playoffs past

From the outset of preseason, the conversation about the Toronto Raptors has focused around the postseason, and rightfully so.

After two flameouts in the first round, fans in the North are looking beyond setting franchise records for success in the regular season. If anything, the higher the bar gets set in the regular season, the higher expectations skyrocket for the playoffs.

Similarly, their past failures have made the Raptors a trendy upset pick, especially since the core remains the same: the tandem of Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan, coached by the steel-suited figure of Dwane Casey.

The franchise has one playoff series win in 21 seasons. What's really changed in Toronto?

Even the addition of DeMarre Carroll, their prime free-agency acquisition - the franchise's biggest signing since the ill-fated Hedo Turkoglu signing - hasn't changed the bottom line since he's been hurt. It feels like the same Raptors team that's headed down the same course - especially if they draw the pesky Chicago Bulls as a first-round opponent.

It's fair of the fan base to expect postseason success, but it's not fair to overlook the regular season in favor of buying into age-old trends.

This isn't the same Raptors team that spectacularly self-combusted in a sweep against the Washington Wizards - far from it. They're a far better team on both ends of the floor.

Last season, the Raptors rushed out to a scorching-hot start, but fizzled out after Jan. 1. This season, they found their stride after turning the calendar and save for a brief dip in February, have gotten stronger month after month.

First and foremost, the Raptors are a dramatically revamped defensive outfit from years past. Since switching from a frenetic swarming scheme to a conservative build that prioritizes protecting the basket, the Raptors have become one of the league's best in terms of protecting the paint.

Adding defensive stalwarts in Cory Joseph and Bismack Biyombo has had the intended effect. Joseph is one of the league's best on-ball defenders, and Biyombo ranks second to only Hassan Whiteside in block percentage.

The Raptors rank eighth in free throws allowed, fifth in opponent points in the paint, and sixth in opponent transition points. They refuse to give up easy baskets.

Casey also reshaped his offense to be less reliant on isolation sets. The Raptors still rank in the bottom of the league in assists per game, but they've found a way to constantly batter opponents by splitting the floor with two driving threats. They swing to the weak side, penetrate the defense at the point of attack, and either get to the hoop, draw fouls, or they find open shooters on kickouts when the defense collapses.

The Raptors rank first in drives per game (when adjusted for pace), and that's a testament to their triumvirate of guards. Joseph, Lowry, and DeRozan combine for 28.8 drives per game. Those three alone account for more drives than 22 teams in the league.

The core pieces remain the same, but they're a totally different team. Look no further than their improvement since the turn of the calendar. This isn't last year's team.

"There's just a better experience," Kevin Durant said of this year's Raptors. " ... Especially after they had a disappointing playoffs last year. They wanted to come in and make a statement from day one and that's what they've done. They've played at a high level all season."

All that being said, the bottom line is still centered around the playoffs. The onus is still on the Raptors to prove their mettle on the biggest stage.

On paper, it could be argued that the Raptors are the toughest contender to the Cleveland Cavaliers' Eastern superiority. But Toronto entered each of its last two playoff series as the supposed favorites, only to duck out.

If they've truly matured into a playoff contender, it's time they showed it. Because if they haven't, and all their improvements this season proves to be a mirage, then some awkward questions lay ahead.

Namely, would locking in DeRozan to a likely max deal still make sense if this core can't get over the hump? Giving DeRozan a $15-million raise would tie up all of the Raptors' cap flexibility. Whatever's left would have to be forked over to Lowry, who's slated to become a free agent in 2017, and would similarly command top dollar. Would locking in this team make sense?

That's the doomsday scenario, but that's what's at stake should the Raptors fall once more. Either they defeat their old demons, and become a rising power in the East, or they stumble again, and validate every doubt cast upon them.