Losing three of four games should be dispiriting. For the Toronto Raptors, though, there’s really been only one dud in the bunch (fittingly, to Dwane Casey’s Pistons). Two possession losses to the Suns and Heat, my personal favourites to make the Finals, is nothing to feel bad about, while a win in Milwaukee is as solid as they come — even if Giannis was out.
That mentality will be good to keep in mind over the next stretch, when the Raptors take on teams outside of that upper echelon. Starting tonight in Dallas, Toronto will see Washington, Portland and Charlotte before next Tuesday — all four opportunities to win and hang around the sixth seed in the East.