I might be dating myself, but it doesn’t feel like that long ago when another Eastern Conference Semifinal between the Raptors and 76ers felt like a right of passage.
The East was still learning to walk outside the shadow of an all-time great, multiple teams were clamouring for a Finals where the result appeared predetermined, and Toronto and Philadelphia — thanks to the presence of superstars — had as good a chance as anyone.
If this sounds familiar, it’s because 2001 and 2019 might be generations apart for the Raptors and Sixers, but both teams once again find themselves sniffing at the opportunity of a new era in the NBA.