These guys are cursed

The worst part about the Raptors’ 100–90 loss wasn’t that they lost, it’s how they lost, and the inescapable destiny that the Raptors would lose.

For the third season in a row, the Raptors lost Game 1 at home.

When you look at the match-up on paper, the Raptors should be the favorites (and for fear of being too naive the Raptors should still be favored to win the series) but it never felt that way. All afternoon, the call from Matt Devlin wasn’t one of confidence or patience — he dealt that slick reassurance that we’ve grown tired of hearing.

“Raptors didn’t play well, but they still have a five-point lead heading into the second.”

“Not the best half from Lowry and DeRozan but they’re still in this.”

Spare Devlin the blame because his intentions were good. He’s seen this movie before, he knows the fans have too, and all he wanted was to quell panic. He was being noble more than anything else. The Raptors are the better team, they had home court, and yet they couldn’t perform.

Only one thing will snap the nervous tension that tracks itself like lint into every Raptors playoff game — the Raptors have to win.

They didn’t win. We didn’t see anything different. A lanky wing player shut down DeRozan and dominated the game. The Raptors got tight and forced way too many shots.

A heavy conscience weighed on the team like an anchor. The Raptors ran on panic — they fought themselves, they fought the crowd, they fought destiny — they lost.

The players themselves tried to peddle the same reassurances after the game. There were half-hearted quips of confidence but no belief in their words. That sinking feeling of doom that you feel as a fan? The players are the one that have to break this curse. It’s weighing on them more than anyone.

The Raptors got smacked in the mouth. Onwards to Game 2.

It’s now or never, Coach.

Game Notes