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Golden State Warriors: The Raptors regular season saga continues

By Nathan Beighle

TORONTO, CANADA - JANUARY 13: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors handles the ball against the Toronto Raptors on January 13, 2018 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images)
TORONTO, CANADA - JANUARY 13: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors handles the ball against the Toronto Raptors on January 13, 2018 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Golden State Warriors were demolished by the Toronto Raptors. Two words will make it all better: regular season.

This happens every year. The Toronto Raptors look absolutely unbeatable in the regular season. Then, once the playoffs hit, Fred VanVleet and Kyle Lowry both forget how to play basketball. That said, fans of the Golden State Warriors shouldn’t be concerned about last night’s loss.

Fans of the Team Up North will look at their playoff record and shake their head. They’ll blame LeBron James for their failures, yet the Golden State Warriors can’t do that. They’re expected to take the King down each and every year, and for all but one year, they’ve done it.

The Raptors, on the other hand, have been at least a playoff contender each of the last five seasons, losing prior to the Eastern Conference Finals in all but one year in which LeBron James went six games with the No. 2 seeded Raptors in 2016.

The Raptors regular season saga continued last night, and it does leave a sting. They beat the Warriors by 20 points on their home court, leading by double digits for most of the game. Even Durant recognized the greatness spuing from Nurse’s squad by saying the Raptors ‘are here.’

Last night, it was a full team effort that overpowered Golden State. All five starters for Toronto posted double figures while five players on their bench hit at least four points in the contest. To everyone’s surprise, it was Kyle Lowry leading the way with 27 points on an effective 9-for-18.

Without Kawhi Leonard, the Dubs were expected to be the aggressor, much like Golden State was a few weeks ago without Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. That game the Dubs took Toronto to overtime, losing by just three.

This game, which should’ve been much like that late-November showdown, was a discouraging effort by the home side and an ensuing blowout. However, just like the aforementioned statement, Warriors fans shouldn’t worry quite yet.

DeMarcus Cousins return will change the dynamic of this team. Following his addition, the Warriors will likely boast the best starting lineup of all time. Can they dominate with it is another question though?

Next. Warriors: 3 players the Dubs should target on December 15. dark

The postseason will truly be the Warriors tell-all, but it’d be nice to see them win a few of these marquee regular season games along the way to quench any doubt.

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