Is it the playoffs already?
That was the joke made as LeBron James stepped up to speak to a large crowd of awaiting media ahead of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ matchup against the Toronto Raptors on Thursday night.
There was a steady undercurrent of post-season talk as the two Eastern Conference foes met up for the first time this year, despite it being only January.
It was the playoffs the last time the Cavaliers were in town, sweeping the Raptors in four games in the Eastern Conference semifinals — a night and a feeling DeMar DeRozan had not forgotten: “If it gives you an edge to go out here and play even harder tonight, then you use it.