Why I stood out in the cold for 3 hours today
Because last year, it was over before I could even get into it.
Because the year before, I went to two playoff games…and they lost them both.
Because this year, it looked like the Toronto Raptors could actually win a seven-game playoff series for the first time in franchise history.
But after today, things don’t look so good.
We The North
For all its wealth and prosperity, Toronto has become a city of futility when it comes to its professional sports franchises. Everybody knows the Leafs haven’t won the Cup since 1967 — and they’ve only made the playoffs once since 2005. The Jays went 22 years without seeing the postseason, until they finally got in last year. And while the Raptors are now three-time Atlantic Division champs, they have only won one playoff matchup in 25 years…and that was back in 2001.
Still, you can’t say the fans aren’t passionate. I got to see some of the Jays’ playoff run last fall in person, and the atmosphere was electric. And even when the Raptors are on the road, fans flock to the ACC to watch the game on the big screen outside.
Welcome to Jurassic Park
That’s where I was today. Getting there 45 minutes before tipoff, the fenced-off tailgate area was almost full to capacity. They’ve even serving up pizza and poutine, along with 10-dollar tallboys, and giving away tickets for the next home game. Not to mention the camera crane filming the crowd for the broadcast on Rogers Sportsnet. But I wasn’t there to be on TV. I was there to see the Raptors win!
However, things did not go well from the get-go. Indiana got off to an early 7–0 lead, then went on another run to finish the first quarter up 12. They stretched the lead to 25 at one point, but while Toronto chipped away to close the first half, they couldn’t close the gap to less than 10 points.
Homeward Bound
Now tied at 2, the series heads back to Toronto for Game 5 on Tuesday. And after building up momentum with two big wins, this setback sends the Raptors back to the drawing board. Still, Toronto is in pretty good position with two of the remaining three games at home. But a win next game is absolutely crucial.
Why this is still our year
On paper, this could be the best Raptors team of all time. They won 56 games this year, second best in the East, and have balanced scoring and depth at every position. In previous games, when the likes of Lowry and DeRozan weren’t delivering, Cory Joseph and Jonas Valanciunas stepped up. But today, nobody really came through. They only shot 36% as a team and scored 83 points. That’s not good enough to get it done against anyone.
The good news is that after a similarly ugly performance in Game 1, the Raps bounced back and took the next two with ease. This might just be the wake-up call they needed to put this series to bed.
We can do this. We The North.
Clicking the heart below will help the Raptors to victory…well, maybe not, but it couldn’t hurt, right?
