USA Today via Reuters
Sep 11, 2020; Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA; Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet (left) celebrates with forward Pascal Siakam (43) after making a three point basket against the Boston Celtics during the second half of game seven of the second round of the 2020 NBA Playoffs at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
USA Today via Reuters
Sep 11, 2020; Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA; Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet (left) celebrates with forward Pascal Siakam (43) after making a three point basket against the Boston Celtics during the second half of game seven of the second round of the 2020 NBA Playoffs at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
The Toronto Raptors fell in game seven to the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference semi-finals. This books the Celtics into the conference finals against the Miami Heat. The Heat dispatched number one seed, Milwaukee Bucks, with ease in five games.
The Heat were the fifth seed heading into the playoffs, while Boston was the third seed. Both teams upset the higher seeds in their conference for a playoff berth. You would expect this to have happened before in a sport with the rich history that basketball has. Well, this was the first-time in Eastern Conference history that both the number one and two seeded teams were eliminated in the second round.
The Raptors are first defending champion to not reach the Conference Finals since the 2014-15 Spurs.
This is the 4th time under the current playoff format (since 1984) that a 1 or 2 seed isn't involved in the Conference Finals, and the first time that it's happened in the East. pic.twitter.com/ms53f3rzuC
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) September 12, 2020
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This is just the fourth time this has ever happened, but all three previous instances came in the Western Conference. The Raptors were further embarrassed, as they became the first defending champions to not make it to the Conference Finals in the last 5 seasons. The last team to fail like this were the 2014-15 San Antonio Spurs.
Toronto Raptors and Milwaukee Bucks sent packing from the playoffs
USA Today via Reuters
Sep 11, 2020; Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA; Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) reacts after a loss to the Boston Celtics in game seven of the second round of the 2020 NBA Playoffs at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
The Raptors and Bucks have had an embarrassing end to their season. They were the two best defensive teams all season, with very potent offenses. However, coaching proved to be the difference-maker in each situation. The former title-winning Erik Spoelstra coached Mike Budenholzer off the court, while Nick Nurse felt the pain in his sophomore season, losing to 2018 Conference Finalist, Brad Stevens.
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The fact that two lower-seeds have qualified for the Finals in the East is another indicator of how odd these NBA playoffs are. In a truly neutral venue, the game has become all about the basketball. No home-court or road games mean that teams are zoned in regardless of the game number, which has given us some tremendous performances.
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The East will get stronger next season, with Philadelphia, Brooklyn, and Indiana all returning to full-strength. At least this year we can see some underdog champions atop the throne.
