NBA All-star games come to Toronto
The All-Star weekend put the spotlight on Toronto and Canadian basketball like never before. The biggest celebration of NBA basketball had crossed the border to the north for the first time. It was only fair as basketball was a sport invented in Canada and is vastly popular especially thanks to the Toronto Raptors.
The event also represented not 1 but 2 all-stars coming out of Toronto Raptors. DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry surely got several glances away from Kobe Bryant, his final all-star appearance. This event is important to bring up because Canadian pride was never higher after this weekend and the fan support further helped the team close out the season strong in preparation for the playoffs. The team was only 1 win away from being the top seed in the Eastern Conference Finals.
2016 playoffs – The First Round Conundrum
As a strong regular season came to a close, it was time for real business. The first task; get rid of a huge chip on the team’s shoulder of losing in the first round. If last two years have been any evidence, the Raptors had to come well prepared mentally. As they faced the Paul George led Indiana Pacers they hoped that the deciding game would not be a game 7 but thanks to a spirited effort by George averaging 27.3 points per game, the series went into a dreaded game 7.
Though the Raptors led the whole game in front of a fiercely animated home crowd, Paul George brought the Pacers back late in the game to bring the lead down to 3 points. The heart started pounding, fans were nervous. Would it be game 7 against the Brooklyn Nets in 2013 all over again? Will the Raptors fall yet again?
Thanks to a good defensive assignment, George missed a crucial game-tying field goal. The curse was broken, the heart survived and the Raptors were through to the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2001. The curse was broken.
2016 playoffs – Second Round – Raptors wade into the history books
If the first round tested the heart of the players and its fans, it only got worse in round 2. However, after 3 overtime games (!!), one of which was forced upon by a clutch half court buzzer beater by Kyle Lowry the Raptors were back again in a game 7 situation to create history.
The Heat were relying heavily on a future hall of famer, Dwayne Wade. But again, thanks to the home support and the timely form of all-stars DeMar Derozan and Kyle Lowry, the team from Canada came through and made their way to their very first eastern conference finals.
2016 Eastern Conference Finals – Toronto vs The World
As Toronto geared up for an extremely tough Eastern Conference Finals match-up against the then unbeaten Cleveland Cavaliers led by Lebron James. This happened.
The above poll conducted by CBS excluding the Raptors from it served as a good homage to every media critic, analyst and sports fan who dismissed the Raptors from having any chance in the eastern conference finals. Fair point, considering the Cavs were a much stronger team. But when people started doubting that the Raptors would not even win a single game in the series, it was Toronto vs everybody. #WeTheNorth became #WeTheOther.
The start to the series was rocky, as Cleveland beat Toronto comprehensively in the first two home games. But Toronto fired right back by protecting home court. Despite playing a much stronger team, the Raptors showed a ton of heart to take it to game 6. The Cavs were able to wrap up the series, but just for a minute, many a basketball fan started thinking, what if? What if they could make it to the finals?
And just the thought is huge. Because like the result of the 2015 playoffs, the result of the 2016 playoffs will set the tone and momentum going into next season. If the Raptors were within striking distance from an NBA final, a championship banner is not far. Here is hoping all the right pieces fall into place next season.
Guess the Lakers players!
