Toronto Raptors: What Must Be Done To Exorcise Playoff Demons

4. Exorcism Perhaps?

More than anything else, the Raptors just need to stay out of their own heads. Though some of the Raptors’ recent playoff failures are the fault of some of these current players, the weight of the franchise’s failures aren’t entirely on this season’s squad.

So far they seem to have their heads on straight, according to their comments recorded by CBS’ James Herbert.

"“No, we in a puddle right now,” DeRozan said. “A little puddle. We got some new shoes on, they got a little wet, that’s all.” Cory Joseph is a Toronto native, and he knows how desperate the city is for a win. The Raptors guard said they all feel that, but they can’t allow it to serve as extra pressure. When DeRozan insisted that this series was totally different than previous ones, he probably knew that outsiders felt differently. Encouragingly, he didn’t seem to care. “I’ve been doubted ever since I’ve been in the league,” DeRozan said. “It’s nothing new for me. I don’t mind it at all, because at the end of the day when you overcome it it’s a better feeling to be able to throw the smack back in somebody’s face who doubted you. By doing that, by doing what you worked so hard for, and that’s when you go out there on the basketball court. Like I said, it’s just one game. We ain’t going nowhere, they ain’t going nowhere, tomorrow night we redeem ourselves, and there’ll be more smiles than what’s going on.”"

For the most part, the idea that there is something wrong with this team from a structural standpoint is just a myth. There is little reason to believe this collection of players isn’t good enough to win in the first round, much less against the seventh seed, and that the team needs blown up.

They’ve played two veteran-heavy teams the last two years while they are getting their own playoff experience, and this year they are going up against several more playoff seasoned players as well as one star player in Paul George.

While they can certainly feel the pressure and desperation from the fans, that isn’t a bad thing. It is what they do with that pressure that will be the story this time around. If they can use that as fuel in their efforts to even the series now that they are trailing, that would go a long way in getting rid of the idea they’re chokers or cursed.

Next: Reacting To An Embarrassing Game 1 Loss

But if Indiana can keep the pressure on and break Toronto in Game 2, then the demons will likely be here to stay for another year.