It certainly seems as if the whole country has jumped on the Toronto Raptors bandwagon. We the North indeed. And for good reason. At press time Monday the Raptors were one game away from winning the NBA championship.
This still seems amazing to me. I'm not sure which part is more amazing. That Canada is getting behind a Toronto team. I mean it's Toronto and Ontario. Yuck. No one likes easterners and their attitude of "the country revolves around us." In this case, though, it is kinda true.
The other amazing part is the Raptors getting so close to the title. Canada has not had great success with basketball. I mean I get it, we're a hockey country first and foremost and always. But this team has captured the attention of everyone everywhere in the country with its plucky, never die attitude.
Toronto joined the NBA in 1995 along with the Vancouver Grizzlies. Sadly, the Grizzlies, our Western Canada team, had a disastrous run before departing for Memphis (Let's never talk about Stu Jackson, Big Country Reeves or Steve Francis again).
The Raptors have always been known as a good team in the regular season but one that folds in the playoffs. Some great players have suited up for Toronto such as Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady and Chris Bosh, but those stars all left for sunnier climates down south.
That playoff loser description clearly doesn't fit anymore. Toronto has fought a tough road but has finally made it to the promised land of the NBA championship final. The Raps knocked out Orlando in the first round 4-1. Then it got tougher. Many thought they would lose to a strong Philadelphia team led by the best big man in the game, Joel Embid, in the second round. But Toronto held tough and squeaked out a 4-3 win.
In the Eastern Conference finals the Raptors came up against likely league MVP Giannis Antetokoumnpou, the Greek Freak, and the Milwaukee Bucks. Many said it was Milwaukee's time, but no, the Raptors shut down the super athletic Atetokoumnpou and advanced to their first-ever NBA final.
Some may say the Raptors are fortunate that the Golden State Warriors are banged up and haven't had superstar Kevin Durant. But hey, they still have a pretty formidable lineup with Splash Brothers Steph Curry and Klay Thompson as well as Draymond Green.
Toronto is being led by former playoff finals MVP Kawhi Leonard. The Raptors acquired Leonard in a risky move last summer. They traded their top player, DeMar DeRozan, for a player who at the time was injured and not really happy to play for San Antonio. Word was that he would play one year for Toronto and move on to one of the Los Angeles teams.
That may still happen, but the trade has been well worth it even if Leonard bolts after one year. Also playing well are point guard Kyle Lowry, who many gave up on earlier this year, and big men Pascal Siakim and Marc Gasol. The veteran Gasol was acquired mid-season in another some would say risky move that has really paid off.
The Raptors bench has delivered too, with Serge Ibaka and Fred VanVleet both hitting big shots and stepping up on defence.
We the North indeed.
– Craig Lindsay is the reporter for the Mountain View Gazette
