The Toronto Raptors will have a shot at redemption when they go head-to-head with the Cleveland Cavaliers after being eliminated by LeBron James and Co. the previous two seasons.
The Raptors (59-23) completed their best campaign in franchise history and have an opportunity to take King James' crown with the Cavs looking vulnerable for the first time since he returned to his hometown. Toronto All-Star Kyle Lowry sees an opening for the Raptors to right their wrongs and unseat James from his Eastern Conference throne.
"It is never disrespect," Lowry said, according to The Undefeated's Marc J. Spears. "The respect we have for them is the respect we have for them. But at the end of the day, we’re trying to do what we need to do to take (LeBron James') throne and he knows that. He knows guys are coming for him. It’s not like he doesn’t know it, but we have to go out there and do it."
Toronto's playoff struggles are well documented. The franchise had failed to win a Game 1 since 2001 before exorcising their demons against the Washington Wizards this year, and have reached the conference finals just once. Evidently, the team is keeping those thoughts in the rearview mirror.
"We have to play our game and don’t worry about what happened in the past," Lowry added. "Whatever people are bringing up from the past is in the past."
Lowry averaged 17.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 8.3 assists in six games against the Wizards.
