Sports
NBA
Raptors

Raptors Clinch & The Lakers Miss The Playoffs, Gotta Love It

Apr 6, 2022

While Toronto Maple Leafs rage about another collapse on the ice, you can take solace in the fact that the Toronto Raptors got it done on the hardcourt and clinched themselves a playoff spot.

It really did feel off last season when the Tampa Raptors missed the playoffs. Being back on home soil in the North, the Raptors are back where they belong, competing in the playoffs and trying to win a championship. 

It’s also a good time to remind everybody that most pundits in the south didn’t give Toronto a chance this season, so this playoff berth feels that much sweeter. It’s always nice when you can flip up the middle finger, and give the old #GFY to the media.

Last night’s game wasn’t special by any means, the Atlanta Hawks are fucking terrible on the road, so it was an expected victory. Despite the Hawks being pushovers, Pascal Siakam had himself a night scoring 31-points and grabbing 13-rebounds. 

This Raptors team is so fun to watch. With vets like Siakam and Fred VanVleet taking charge of the court, it leaves it open for Toronto’s sensational rookie Scottie Barnes to do his thing. Barnes put up 19-points and grabbed 14-rebounds in Toronto’s playoff clinching win. 

With three games remaining Nick Nurse will be able to sit VanVleet and others, and let them rest for the postseason. At the moment the Raptors will be facing the Philadelphia 76ers, and let’s face it, it’s always good when Toronto and Philadelphia meet in the postseason.

So, what could have made last night even better? This: 

LeBron James is missing the playoffs for only the fourth time in his career. The problem is, he’s now missed the playoffs twice since joining the Lakers four-years-ago. Despite winning the championship in the “Bubble”, during a crazy COVID-19 season, things have sucked for The King since he arrived in Los Angeles. 

What makes last night that much fucking sweeter is that the Lakers were media darlings the entire offseason, as the pundits shit allover the Raptors. So watching Toronto clinch a legitimate playoff spot, and the Lakers get bounced from a play-in opportunity, how the fuck are Toronto fans not just loving this, right?

Contributing Writers

Subscribe Now!

Which newsletters would you like to receive?

Yes! By providing my email address, I agree to receive communications from Crier Media (this can be changed at any time). Please take a look at the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use for more details.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Related stories