Welcome to the second round of the NBA playoffs, Toronto Raptors. Just ask Allen Iverson or Larry Brown, the star player and head coach of the Sixers, who've failed to make it out of the Eastern Conference semifinals the last two years. Today begins the third time around.
Expectations are higher, chemistry is better.
The New York Knicks were more experienced in the postseason, too, but the Raptors won a decisive Game 5 at Madison Square Garden Friday night. We can beat any team in this league, regardless of what names are on a team's roster. We are not getting caught up on what they did to us in the regular season, how well I play against them or all that stuff. We just care about the agenda at hand, and that's winning this first game. Game 5, if necessary will be in Philadelphia May 16.