Watching the Raptors address the media after their Game 1 victory over the Wizards, you’d never know that achieving this specific outcome in this specific setting had been such a continuous struggle.
The game itself merely followed the rhythms of any other basketball game — up and down play, lead changes, moments good and bad, etc. But that the Raptors didn’t nerve themselves out of what they do well, and instead just played to their potential for 48 minutes, Game 1 or not, was an inspiration. You can say that’s setting the bar low, but Toronto cleared it, and look primed to jump even higher next time.