In case anyone has forgotten, Fred VanVleet put the NBA on notice that the Toronto Raptors remain a force to be reckoned with after they delivered a blowout win in their playoff opener.

The defending champion Raptors crushed the Brooklyn Nets, 134-110, as VanVleet led 7 players in double figures with a playoff career-high 30 points on top of 11 assists and 2 steals.

VanVleet could not have played any better after he knocked down 8 of his 10 three-point attempts, falling just one triple short in tying the Raptors’ franchise record of 9 set by Vince Carter.

An undrafted guard who has blossomed into one of the Raptors’ most reliable players, VanVleet set a couple of records with his hot-shooting display against the Nets.

VanVleet became the first Raptors player with at least 30 points and 10 assists in a playoff game and only the fourth player in NBA history with at least 30 points, 10 assists, and 8 three-pointers in a playoff game.

The other 3 players are Chris Paul, Damian Lillard, and Steph Curry.

Concerns on the Raptors’ inability to defend their NBA throne grew in the offseason after they lost Kawhi Leonard, who won Finals MVP in their title run last season, to the Los Angeles Clippers.

But the Raptors have proven they are more than just one man, finishing the regular season just behind the league-leading Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference.

Serge Ibaka had 22 points and 7 rebounds for Raptors, Pascal Siakam put up 18 points and 11 rebounds, Kyle Lowry added 16 points and 11 assists, while Marc Gasol chimed in 13 points and 5 rebounds.

Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot led the Nets with 26 points. – Rappler.com