Toronto Travels Road To Triumph
by Matt Akler, raptors.com --- May 6, 2001

The Raptors may have only made a short trip down the road from New York to Philadelphia to start the second round of the NBA playoffs, but Toronto has actually traveled much farther than that.

With the victory over the Knicks, the Raptors moved from a team hoping to win into a team knowing it can win. In their 96-93 win over the 76ers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinal, there was a look of complete calm and confidence on the face of each Raptor.

Toronto built a double-digit lead in the second quarter and it was threatened several times, especially when it became a single possession game in the nail-biting fourth. However, just like Game 5 at Madison Square Garden, the Raptors exhibited great composure and poise down the stretch, looking very much like a playoff-hardened team many believed them not to be.

"It was very important for us to come in here and get a win," said Vince Carter, who finished with a playoff-career high 35 points. "We're a number five seed, they're a number one and a great team. They have the advantage on paper so you have to beat the odds by doing the little things."

And those little things were getting done from some unexpected sources. Dell Curry came off the bench to score 20 points, only two below his entire total of 22 in the five-game first round series. Aside from one anxious turnover in the closing minutes, the 15-year veteran was cooler than just about anyone else, nailing 7-of-12 from the field, including 4-of-9 from downtown. Curry's contribution was especially vital because of the scoreless night by starting point guard Chris Childs.

Another surprise came in the form of Eric Montross, one of the forgotten men at the end of the Toronto bench. The 7-foot center, who did not play one second against the Knicks, came in to battle the monstrous Mutombo and grabbed six rebounds in the first half, more than any of his teammates before the break.

More of those little things did come from the regular cast of characters. Charles Oakley had a key jumper late in the game, Antonio Davis had a number of deflections to prevent a basket or tips to keep the ball alive and Alvin Williams returned to his hometown and did more than his share, finishing the game with 15 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals.

But it really came down to Carter, who should hear no more calls about his playoff performance. He was the dominant player in the fourth quarter, attacking the basket, making shots, following his own attempts, nailing free throws, playing his now-high standard but unheralded level of defense and demonstrating great leadership.

With Carter back to All-Star form, and a supporting cast that now knows it is capable of winning in the playoffs, there can be no doubt that the Raptors are a legitimate threat in the East, particularly to the conference-leading 76ers who now stand in their way.

Toronto has won three straight playoff games. It has been a very long trip in a short time for a team that was still looking for its first postseason victory just 10 days ago.