Trouble In T.O.

Talking about the Maple Leafs failure to make the playoffs again...

Nope.

How about the Blue Jay suddenly turning into an infirmary ward...

Guess again.

The real trouble in Toronto today is with the Raptors.

Now I know what you're going to say, 'Didn't they go 47-35, make the playoffs, win their division, and secure home court advantage?" Well, yes they did. But my response to that would be, "Have you seen who they're playing in the first round of the playoffs?"

The answer to that is: Vince Carter and The New Jersey Nets.

I'm not sure there could have been a worse scenario for the Raptors. They finally get back to the playoffs, win the division and they have to face the guy who openly quit on them until he forced a trade. And since Vince Carter left Toronto for New Jersey he has basically been a Raptor killer. This year against the Raptors he averaged 21.5 points, 7 rebounds and 6.3 assists.

People in Toronto might be saying that they want to play Carter, that they want to beat him in the playoffs and exorcise their demons once and for all. They might say that on the outside, but I bet on the inside they're scared, maybe even terrified that Carter and his suddenly healthy and suddenly surging Nets are going to come in and end the Raptors great run this year.

And since this year was such a surprise, Raptor fans would probably be willing to accept a first round loss. However, that would all be based on Vince Carter not being the person they lose to. A first round loss to Carter and the Nets would bring back all of those old, terrible memories again.

Don't get me wrong, I hope the Raptors beat Carter and the Nets like a gong. But with the Raptors lack of playoff experience and the Nets suddenly being hot, this is going to be a tough, tough series for the Raptors to get through. Not that it's going to be a cakewalk for the Nets either. The Raptors aren't pushovers and didn't win the division on a fluke.

I want to say this is like Anakin coming back to face Obi-wan but it's not really like that at all. It's more like...well it's like something, but I just can't think of what.