The Raptors have made the playoffs for seven straight seasons. During that span, they’ve won at least 48 games every year, winning more than 50 games in their last five.
Within this context, their 1-4 start feels like unfamiliar territory. The championship run followed by the team’s valiant title defence last season makes their early season performance even harder to stomach. The Raptors are better than their record, but they’re also no longer championship contenders. The post-championship years are tough. There’s an adjustment to expectations, and the road back to contention can be long and arduous.
Here’s a look at how recent championship teams have fared in the years after winning it all, and how it might inform where the Raptors are going.