Playoff basketball is always crazy but the Toronto Raptors are giving their strong fan base the most crazy of playoff runs.
After two years of playoff disappointment the Raptors came into this year’s playoffs with a head of steam having set franchise records in wins, home wins, road victories, consecutive home wins, and consecutive wins to name a few but the general feeling was prove you can do that in the playoffs.
Their first round series against the Indiana Pacers did not start out well as they lost by ten points in a game it never really felt like they were in.
As the series moved along the Raptors gave their fans moments of pure joy, punctuated by their epic comeback in game five and moments of frustration but after seven hard fought games they survived. And survive it was as their two best players all season long were a shell of their regular season selves throughout the series.
Next up was the Miami Heat and their future Hall of Famer Dwayne Wade. In an interesting twist of fate the series played out almost identically to the one against the Pacers with one stark contrast. Demar Derozan and more specifically Kyle Lowry finally started playing more like the all stars they are and after seven games the Raptors once again won.
The win was a historic one for the Raptors organization as it marked the first time in the teams 21 year history they were going to the conference finals.
Unfortunately for them waiting there was the well rested Cleveland Cavaliers and their superstar, LeBron James, who was searching for his sixth straight trip to the National Basketball Association finals dating back to his time in Miami.
Everyone was writing the Raptors off as an easy victim for the Cavs. Most pundits gave the Raptors one win in the series at best with most expecting a sweep.
There was so little hype surrounding the Raptors that CBS Sports had a poll out asking who would win the NBA title and the choices were the Golden State Warriors, the Oklahoma City Thunder (who were playing each other in the Western Conference Final), the Cleveland Cavaliers, and other, as in the Toronto Raptors since they were the only other team playing.
Now admittedly, CBS did say they released the poll before the Raptors knocked off the Heat in game seven but you get the point.
No one gave the Raptors any hope.
Once the series started it certainly looked like the Raptors deserved to be cast aside as they were trounced in the first two games on the series in Cleveland and came home licking some pretty serious wounds.
Then in front of their rabid fan base the Raptors came alive pulling out a pair of wins, including a gusty game four win after blowing an 18 point lead when the Cavs made 14 straight shots without a miss.
So here we sit. Going back to Cleveland with the series tied at two.
What a fun journey it has been so far. Now as the saying in sports playoffs goes “You’re never in trouble until you lose at home,” which means the Cavs still do have the series in their control but it certainly feels like their grip is a lot looser now than it was five days ago.
Now I admit, I am not a huge basketball guy. I am hockey guy first and foremost but this Raptors run has been really fun to watch and I find myself turning on the Raptors games and watching those instead of the National Hockey League playoffs.
This run has even made me forget for the most part that I watched exactly zero NHL playoff games containing Canadian teams this spring because none of them made it.
It really has been fun to watch. For those who have not tuned in so far give it a try. LeBron James is one of the best players on the planet and the Raptors are Canada’s basketball team and it really is fun to watch.
And for those who are watching. Enjoy it because you never know when you are going to get the chance to see the Raptors back in the conference finals again.
