Don’t get too high, don’t get too low. That’s the well-worn adage used by pro athletes and coaches alike, no matter whether their team is winning or losing. In the NBA Finals, with the stakes at their highest, it becomes a cliche elevated to mantra.
The Raptors know this. They also know they’re closer than ever to the NBA title. Yet they can’t get too jazzed, too overwhelmed, before the job is done. They may have won Game 1, but they still have to execute their game plan. This is imperative because their Finals opponent, the Golden State Warriors, are the reason we all use adages like “don’t get too high, don’t get too low” in the first place.