Before we are engulfed by this new, unknown thing — this Eastern Conference Finals —let us pause and appreciate what’s transpired.
There are moments you remember well, moments that are part of a collective understanding of what it means to be a sports fan in Toronto. Many are painful: The Leafs blowing a 4–1 lead four-goal lead against Boston in 2013, or Vince Carter hitting the back of the rim with a last-second chance to beat Philadelphia in 2001. Moments where fans were so close to the rush of winning, only to be knocked back into their seats, reminded that Toronto has not been a city of winning in a long, long time.
But there are moments, too, that reward all that suffering. There was George Bell, hands up, after clinching American League East division title in the Drive of ’85… Or two out, down two, in the ninth, when Roberto Alomar knocked one over the right field fence in ’92… there was Joe Carter leaping around the bases in ’93.
Last fall, there was a bat flip.
So the Jays have had their share. For the Leafs, dear God, it’s been some time. But Sunday, it was the Raptors’ turn. More specifically, it was Kyle Lowry’s.
With time our memories will forget the ugly struggle through Indiana and the blown opportunities in games against Miami. What we’ll remember is that small, growing gap between the Raptors and the Heat as the fourth quarter of Game 7 melted away. It was 8 points…. then 13…. 18… and then for nearly a minute with just under five to go the Raptors lead was 20, which is just enough for pessimism to cling to. But then Lowry stole the ball off the Heat inbounds play, passed it to DeRozen — who’d been derided all playoffs — and he nailed a jump shot… 22… Raptors fans at the Air Canada Centre, in Jurassic Park, in bars and living rooms everywhere, could feel the moment coming.
After another miss by the fading Heat, Lowry coolly launched a triple from 27-feet. He hopped back as the ball arced, knowing, and when it fell he turned at half-court as the Air Canada Centre rejoiced. A new moment, his moment — a 25-point lead with four minutes to go. They should have turned on the national anthem and let Dwayne Wade play through it.
Game 7 was over.
In the end, Lowry’s 35-point afternoon capped the most important moment in Toronto Raptors 21-year history. There has never been a moment like it on they city’s hardcourt. There have been precious few like it on any playing surface here.
Kyle Lowry led the Raptors into unchartered territory. It took two seven game series, and let’s face it, some very ugly basketball along the way. But they did the Raptors’ way. They did it Toronto’s way.
King James and the Cavs await the Others in the Eastern Conference Finals, and that’s certainly going to be a tough one. But right now the moment is done, and whatever happens next can’t erase what came before.