Toronto is of course no stranger to playoff basketball. Prior to the 2021-22 season, which was not real per the official canon, the Raptors had been part of the NBA’s springtime dance for seven consecutive seasons.
Now that they’re back, though, it feels a touch different. First off, the Raptors haven’t begun a first round series on the road since all the way back in 2008, when they opened the most forgettable series the team’s ever played in Orlando against the Magic. They’ll be on the road for the post-season return, with an equal parts intimidating and fragile Sixers crowd in the place ready to flip sides and boo the shit out of their own team at a moment’s notice.