The Jurassic Park is back. No, not the Spielberg dinosaur franchise, the real Jurassic Park.
The Toronto Raptors have their first game of the 2016 playoffs against the Indiana Pacers here at home, and fans are rabid. Thousands have gathered outside the ACC to watch the game on a giant screen in what is now called the Jurassic Park.
"It's a crazy atmosphere out here. Only Toronto fans can come together like this," Darren Varatha said. "The fans are more passionate out here. Some of my friends have been in line since 7 in the morning."
The Raptors are looking to bounce back from the disappointment of last year where they lost in a four game sweep to the Washington Wizards. The Raptors have only won a playoff series once in franchise history.
"We the Guelph!" yelled a trio fans who travelled to join the sea of people amassed outside the ACC, a play on the popular 'We The North' tagline.
The team is coming off a franchise best 56 wins this season, and want to parlay that into playoff success.
And as far as playoff storylines go, this series has a glut of them.
Cory Joseph – born and raised in the GTA – is the first Canadian player to be a key component of a Raptors playoff run.
And today's game will see the end of an inauspicious NBA record – most games played by an active player without a single playoff appearance. Recent acquisition Jason Thompson, who currently holds that title, put an end to his 588 game streak by lacing up this afternoon.
"We was trash," was how Kyle Lowry characterized the team's playoff performance last year, during a media session. To the All-Star guard – and the thousands of fans gathered – hopes are that this year will be different.
Editor's Note: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that the Toronto Raptors have never won a playoff series. In fact, they beat the New York Knicks in a five-game series in 2001.