In last year’s playoffs, when the Raptors prepared for their terrifying showdown against the Philadelphia 76ers, we convened with Liberty Ballers to determine a ranking of the key players in the series. (My pick of Kawhi over Embiid turned out to be correct, by the way.) It was, all things considered, a nice time.
Now fast forward to today. The Raptors are in the playoffs again and once again in the second round — for the fifth straight time — only they now Toronto’s long-time erstwhile nemesis, the Boston Celtics.