Lakers LeBron is no longer the Raptors' boogeyman

Yes, he posted a game-high 29 points.

And yes, he crammed his typical smattering of highlight reel-worthy plays down the Raptors collective throats on several occasions during the Lakers’ 111-98 loss in Toronto on Thursday.

These aren’t the perennial Eastern Conference champion Cleveland Cavaliers from yesteryear joining LeBron to crush the Raptors’ souls anymore, though. It’s an uninspired, oddly constructed Lakers lineup under James’ watch, and without that supporting cast around him Toronto isn’t falling victim to its nemesis anymore — at least not this season.

Their 13-point victory in the team’s final showdown with LeBron and the Lakers this season was the second time the Raps defeated LA by double digits, after a 14-point W early last November. Though he was inactive in that first contest against LBJ and the Lakers, Kawhi Leonard was firing on all cylinders this time around, going toe-to-toe with James and leading the Raptors with 25 points — including five triples — while adding eight boards and four assists.

He also blessed us with this tremendous Euro step buzzer-beater at the end of the first half:

According to Sportsnet Stats, LeBron entered Thursday’s contest averaging 27.5 points, seven rebounds and 7.7 assists with a 51 percent FG% in 52 career games against the Raptors. Even more traumatizing, the Raptors had their lofty playoff expectations fall painfully short at the hands of The King and The Cavs in each of the last three campaigns — getting swept the last two years in the second round and dropping a six-game Conference Finals series in 2016.

The Raptors swept California and the entire Pacific Division this year, going 10-0 against the Warriors, Lakers, Clippers, Suns and Kings.

There aren’t many guarantees in sports, but one thing we know for sure is that Toronto won’t have its dreams crushed at the hands of LBJ for a fourth consecutive time.

Raps fans just have to pray that Giannis and the Bucks are still a year or two away from officially taking over as Toronto’s playoff boogeyman.

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