Ever since the pandemic shut down the NBA in 2020, the boxscore I’ve visited most on Basketball Reference was the Toronto Raptors’ final pre-shutdown home game against Charlotte. It’s a reminder of happier times.
Toronto had an aura of invincibility. They were defending champs but without the usual pressure of repeating. The departures of Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green instantly knocked the Raptors off the pedestal of favourites and into the more familiar role of underrated contender. The season went along as well as anyone could’ve hoped. Every victory was a slap in the face to any doubters.