WASHINGTON, D.C.—As flashbacks go, these were terrifying visions of long-lost playoff failures.
Was that Raptors all-star DeMar DeRozan forcing those questionable shots at Capital One Arena on Friday night? Was that Kyle Lowry, Toronto’s other all-star, turning the ball over repeatedly under pressure? And could it even be possible that those non-all-stars wearing the black road jerseys were the much-talked-about new-look Raptors? Could the deepest, most balanced squad in franchise history actually be guilty of playing such brain-cramped, slow-to-adjust basketball?
If you watched Toronto’s 122-103 Game 3 loss to the Wizards, you know the answers to all those questions was a shrug and a nod in the affirmative.