With the Raptors down 3-0 to the Philadelphia 76ers in their first-round playoff series, it’s clear the absence of the injured Scottie Barnes has hurt Toronto’s chances.
Barnes was hoping to be the rare rookie to make an impact on the NBA playoffs, a situation Earvin (Magic) Johnson can relate to.
Forty-two years ago, Johnson also faced the 76ers in his rookie year, although in Magic’s case it was the NBA Finals. He stepped in when Kareem Abdul-Jabbar couldn’t play Game 6 because of an ankle injury. Johnson had 42 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists in the title-clinching game, one of the top moments in NBA Finals history.