We can admit now that heading into last year’s playoffs we were a bit nervous. Not end-of-the-world anxious, but there was still a shiver of that old Raptors mentality that the worst could and would happen. When Toronto dropped Game 1 in the 2019 playoffs, it seemed to confirm that feeling. Then of course, the Raptors went on to win the title and now there is only peace.
It’s that spirit that brings us to this current moment. We’re heading into Game 1 of the 2020 playoffs with the Raptors. It’s a heads-up contest against the upstart Brooklyn Nets who played their way into this matchup and are going to put up a fight — such as it is.