The Raptors can always expect a poor exchange rate coming to the U.S., but that doesn’t usually include a 15-point first-quarter deficit.
Nor does it usually include Vince Carter missing all eight of his first-half shots.
But as Toronto learned quickly yesterday, things are different in the playoffs.
Not only were the Raptors making their franchise’s first postseason appearance, but two of their starters – Carter and Tracy McGrady – also made their playoff debuts.
So in typical New York style, the defending Eastern Conference champion Knicks welcomed them all to the party with a 27-12 pounding in the first quarter, en route a 46-37 halftime lead.
But eventually, the Raptors seemed to catch on, as they stormed back to tie the game three times in the fourth quarter before falling 92-88 in Game 1.
So as they headed to Toronto last night for two days of practices, the Raptors did not leave empty-handed. Instead, they felt that the experience they gained in Game 1 will make an immediate difference in Game 2 Wednesday at the Garden.
“We have to feel good that we played so poorly in the first quarter and still had a chance to win at the end,” Raptor center Antonio Davis said.
Moreover, the Raptors don’t expect Carter to shoot a horrific 3 of 20 from the floor again, as he did yesterday in finishing with 16 points (17 below his season-average against the Knicks).
Nor will they likely have to face further distractions of their coach, Butch Carter, suing Marcus Camby. After being grilled about the suit before yesterday’s game, what more can they say?
If anything, the Raptors can leave with high hopes as they prepare for Game 2.
“Come Wednesday we should learn something,” said Raptor forward Charles Oakley, who played his 130th playoff game, mostly with the Knicks.
Said Davis, a playoff veteran while with the Pacers, “The good thing is we know the mistakes we made. We know how to correct them. We didn’t play our best basketball in the first quarter and that put us in a hole.”
In his second season, Vince Carter came into the playoffs with NBC hype not seen since Michael Jordan retired. In fact, he has been compared regularly to the former Bull star, not that he appreciates it.
But for most of the game, the 6-foot-7 former North Carolina all-American was cuffed by Latrell Sprewell.
So now he and the Raptors know the story of the playoffs.
“We have some things we have to work on and we know that,” Vince Carter said. “We have one under our belt now. I have a game under my belt and Tracy has one now too, and some of the other guys who have never been in this position. We have time to settle ourselves down and go back to basics and try to get a win in Game 2.”