It's not fun to think about it, but it's also impossible to avoid thinking about it.
It's been a near-constant refrain over the past two months: can you imagine how good these Raptors could be if they had a healthy DeMarre Carroll in the starting lineup?
Yes, despite all the highs of this season -- the second seed locked up, 50 wins on the way, two All-Stars, etc. -- the Raptors have largely been without their big free agent signing, swingman Carroll. To date he's played in just 23 games this season, and whether because of injury (banged up knee, plantar fasciitis) or unfamiliarity, Carroll has hardly looked like himself.