For the second playoff series in a row, a Toronto professional sports franchise has to face their athletic demons.
The first came courtesy of the Toronto Maple Leafs, who were looking to avenge their epic 2013 collapse against the Boston Bruins.
Ironically that series followed a nearly identical script: Bruins go up 3-1, only to watch the Leafs win two straight and force a game seven.
Then in game seven the Leafs hold a third period lead, only to watch the Bruins score three times in the third period to win.
So after watching the Leafs fail, now it’s the Raptors’ turn.
The Raptors have a monumental task in front of them: knock off a king.
LeBron “King” James and his Cleveland Cavaliers teammates arrive in Toronto for game one of their National Basketball Association Eastern Conference semi-finals on May 1.
This will be the third year in a row these two teams have met, with James and the Cavs winning the previous two, eliminating the Raptors in six games in the Eastern Conference finals in 2016, and in four games in the semi-finals last season.
Of course, the Raptors have more than one daunting streak to snap, as they set out to become the first team to beat a James led team prior to the NBA finals for the first time since 2010.
In the last seven seasons James has made the NBA finals seven times, winning three of those.
So the Raptors have their hands full.
But after being on the back foot in the previous two Raps-Cavs series, the Raptors hold the early edge this time around.
After having a short turnaround, and being on the road, the Raptors are full of rest and hold home court.
The Cavs are fresh off a hard-fought seven game series against the Indiana Pacers, where James nearly single-handedly carried his team to victory.
That’s good news, bad news for the home side.
Of course, with James needing to essentially single-handedly win the first round series, the expectation is James will be more fatigued than he otherwise should be come round two.
Especially since in previous years his clubs failed to lose a single game in the first round, let alone three.
So fatigue could become a huge factor, especially considering the Raptors’ best players play nearly ten fewer minutes a night, thanks in large part to one of the best benches in the NBA.
Of course, the fact that James reigned in round one could spell trouble for the Raptors.
Can we expect James to regress in round two?
Sure, maybe a little, although he seems to love playing the Raptors and always has a big night, but his teammates will also not likely play as poorly.
That is where this series will be decided.
Can the Raptors slow down LeBron with any sort of consistency?
And if they do, how much production will the Cavs get from the rest of their roster.
Those questions will go a long way to deciding how this series plays out.
And while we do not know how it will go, we do know this might be the Raptors’ best chance to exorcise the demon that is King James.
