Sir Charles in Charge
Fansided

Your Game of Thrones guide to the 2017-18 NBA season

By Jonathan Macri

SHANGHAI, CHINA - OCTOBER 08: Kevin Durant #35, Stephen Curry #30, Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors during the game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Golden State Warriors as part of 2017 NBA Global Games China at Mercedes-Benz Arena on October 8, 2017 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Zhong Zhi/Getty Images)
SHANGHAI, CHINA - OCTOBER 08: Kevin Durant #35, Stephen Curry #30, Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors during the game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Golden State Warriors as part of 2017 NBA Global Games China at Mercedes-Benz Arena on October 8, 2017 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Zhong Zhi/Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – MAY 27: Head coach Dwane Casey of the Toronto Raptors argues a call in the first quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers in game six of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2016 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre on May 27, 2016 in Toronto, 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. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – MAY 27: Head coach Dwane Casey of the Toronto Raptors argues a call in the first quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers in game six of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2016 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre on May 27, 2016 in Toronto, 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. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /

"“Death is the enemy. The first enemy, and the last. The enemy always wins, and we still need to fight him.”"

– The Raptors, to whoever remembers they’re still here

Perhaps it’s fitting that a line delivered North of the Wall to the King of the North is so applicable to the Team of the North.

The Raptors know they can’t beat LeBron James. They know that should the King of Akron depart to become the Prince of Hollywood, they probably won’t be able to beat the Celtics the year after that. Hell, by that time, they might not even be a match for the Sixers.

No matter. The North doesn’t back down from a fight.

From a PR standpoint, it wouldn’t have been easy to press the reset button and let Kyle Lowry and Serge Ibaka walk, but logistically, they were as primed as any team to catapult head first into the deep end of the tanking pool. DeMar DeRozan wouldn’t have been a fit on many teams, but someone would have bit. They already have some interesting young talent. The turnaround time would have been relatively quick.

Alas, their watch has not yet ended. No, there’s no defeating death, just like there’s no changing the Raps incredible predictability and slogged up offense come playoff time. But to rip apart this core while they’re still functionally above-average would have been downright cowardly.

As is the case every year, death is coming. The Raptors will go down swinging.

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