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[QUOTE="jncuse, post: 3510419, member: 1969"]
The Raptors needed Kawhi to win.   Kawhi needed the Raptors to win.

The Raptors supporting core was actually better this year than last year.

- OG Anunoby was injured much of last year and for all the playoffs - he more than offset the loss of Danny Green.  He is one of the most underrated defenders in the league.  Perhaps the best defender on the Raptors.
- Powell slumped last year and much of the playoffs - he was re-energized this year and was much better.
- FVV stepped up his game this year and became a much better player and was no longer scared after last year;s finals.
- Siakam -- it's hard to say.  He appeared to have improved a lot for the first two months of the year, then regressed and crashed under the pressure as the first option (which he unfortunately may not be suited for).   As 2A/2B he was quite good last year, so U suspect he would have stayed at least as good as last year if not a bit better.
- Veterans Ibaka and Lowry did not regress at all.   The only veteran that regressed a bit was Gasol.
- Not that the Raptors would have needed 9-11 men on the roster (Nurse does not like playing more than 7 or 8 deep if he can), but Davis, Boucher, Thomas were much better than Lin, Meeks and whatever other garbage they trotted out last year in the playoffs.
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