Tip of the Tower
Fansided

Toronto Raptors: 6 revelations from Game 2 loss to Cavaliers

By Demar Grant

TORONTO, ON - MAY 03: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers goes up for a shot in the second half of Game Two of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Toronto Raptors during the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre on May 3, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - MAY 03: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers goes up for a shot in the second half of Game Two of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Toronto Raptors during the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre on May 3, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /
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Toronto Raptors
TORONTO, ON – MAY 03: Fred VanVleet #23 of the Toronto Raptors runs onto the court for warm up, prior to the first half of Game Two of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre on May 3, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /

2. The Raptors may be the 60-win Hawks

Tell me if this story sounds familiar: Great upstart regular season team, apparently elite both offensively and defensively, better than the sum of their parts. The season seems almost magical in the way it came together, because nobody expected anything like this to ever happen.

On the surface, the story of the Raptors and 2014-15 Hawks are the same team, with their story throughout the postseason having also been eerily similar. Struggle a bit in the first round and then run up against James in a first optimistic, but ultimately futile bout.

The difference is the Hawks had the benefit of being a surprise squad assembled almost out of the blue. The Cavs know these Raptors — even with a different style of play the figureheads — are still the same; the end could be the same as well.

Going down 2-0 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, the Raptors face traveling to an arena  where they’ve never left victorious in the playoffs.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have never lost a home playoff game against the Toronto Raptors. Ever.

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