Will the road ahead break the Raptors?

In the days of the pioneers, the expression: ‘Go West Young Man’ was a euphemism for finding new opportunity, a place to stretch your legs, a way to master your own destiny.

In practice, it meant dying on the way, fighting the indigenous people when you got there, and, as likely as not, ending up under the thumb of someone more wealthy and powerful than you — just like back East.

Given the Raptors’ history heading West, they might prefer those options.

A year ago, I wrote a couple of pieces on the Raptors’ ten-most difficult road-trips of all time. It was a... depressing list.

Of the ten hardest trips in Toronto basketball history, the Raptors posted a winning record just once — a warm-fuzzies…