A memory capsule of the historic 2018–2019 NBA playoffs for the Toronto Raptors.
by Samantha Cheng
1: Toronto Raptors [4] — Orlando Magic [1]
The series didn’t exactly start on the right foot when the Raptors lost the first game against the Magic, but they’re typically known to struggle in first games of the playoffs, so it wasn’t too worrisome. Sure enough, Kyle Lowry bounced back from his impressive 0 points in Game 1, Pascal Siakam scored 30 in Game 3, and Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green, and Marc Gasol did not disappoint throughout the series. We won four straight games in a row for a fairly easy victory against the Magic, who had entered the playoffs for the first time in seven years.
2: Toronto Raptors [4] — Philadelphia 76ers [3]
This was arguably the most stressful series of the playoffs. The second round was crucial. If we could not make it past this point, especially after the nightmare of the 2017–2018 postseason, then the gamble Masai Ujiri made to trade DeMar DeRozan for Kawhi would become an indisputable failure. Kawhi Leonard would certainly leave, and the chance to make playoff history would slip away from the city’s grasp once again.
With Kawhi dropping 45 points and Pascal Siakam 39, the first game was glorious. The next two? Not so much. Jimmy Butler led the way in the second game, Joel Embiid seemed to have come alive after his injury in the third, and the team looked unstoppable. Everyone knew Game 4 was a must-win for Toronto in order to avoid a 3–1 deficit — a difficult feat to accomplish considering they did not have home court advantage. I was not able to watch the game, but I remember frantically checking the score until I could finally afford to let out a sigh of relief.
Back in Toronto for Game 5, everyone played spectacularly. The 76ers couldn’t make their shots, and at one point we were even leading by 40. I thought perhaps the Raptors had unearthed their weakness once and for all, meaning a cruise to the conference finals, but I was sorely mistaken. Before we knew it, a stressful Game 7 was on its way. And it wouldn’t be just any close-out game. In the final four seconds, Kawhi Leonard did something even Vince Carter could not eleven years ago. Already immortalized on numerous murals and the side of the Scotiabank Arena, he scored the winning buzzer beater to advance to the Conference finals. I feel so fortunate to have witnessed something this surreal, and it was truly the highlight of the entire series.
3: Milwaukee Bucks [2] — Toronto Raptors [4]
The Bucks, who ended first in the league during the regular season, are remarkable and have a bright future ahead of them. Giannis Antetokounmpo is a star who will only continue to grow, and I won’t be surprised if he takes over the East in the near future once he develops a jump shot. To be honest, I was already satisfied with the last series’ win. I predicted Bucks in 6, and it seemed likely with the first two games taken by Milwaukee (and especially when Lowry’s phenomenal 30 point performance in Game 1 still came up short). However, Toronto did something I never expected — they won four games in a row. Four. The Raptors exposed their shortcomings, guarded one of the most unstoppable players of the league, and came back from deficits late in games with astonishing composure. Also, shout-out to Fred VanVleet for making a comeback after his struggles against Philadelphia, and Norman Powell for his amazing contributions during this match-up! What makes this team special is that everyone shows up when you need them the most, and the undeniable depth of this team was what allowed us to secure the title of Eastern Conference champions.
4: Toronto Raptors [4] — Golden State Warriors [2]
From this point onwards, I am writing after the game six win. In fact, it’s past 2 AM but the country is still ablaze. Cars are honking. Social media has erupted. Everyone is delirious — and rightfully so. Game 6 was a nail-biter, one that went neck-to-neck with the lead changing eighteen times. However, the Raptors managed to hang on to the lead (with two fouls with just 0.9 seconds left) and we won it all. Kawhi Leonard, who won his second Finals MVP in two different teams, stopped two potential three-peats: the Heat back in 2014, and the Warriors this year. Jeremy Lin became the first Asian-American to win an NBA championship, and Patrick McCaw hilariously continued his career-long title streak, winning the third title in the entirety of his three-year career. Furthermore, I am infinitely proud of Kyle Lowry, who started with 0 in Game 1 against Orlando and ended with godly figures in the first half of the final game. He saw all the ups and downs in his seven years with the Raptors, but continued to play his heart out. Of course, I’ll never forget DeMar DeRozan’s legacy and loyalty, and I’ll always acknowledge all the previous players who put Toronto on the map, such as Vince Carter, Damon Stoudamire, and Chris Bosh. Finally, I wish Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson of the Warriors a speedy recovery. It’s always saddening to see great players fall victim to costly injuries.
Two days later, the feeling of the Larry O’Brien trophy in the country’s hands as it crosses the border is like no other. This year’s postseason captured the hearts of Raptors fans, both old and new, and I am so proud to see more support after every game. At last, years of disappointment and heartbreak finally led to this moment. Remember last year’s Game 1 in the second round against the Cleveland Cavaliers, when we were given the nickname LeBronto? When we lost by one point in overtime, despite having plenty of game-winning opportunities, and ended up being swept? The adversity this team faced over the years, their newfound resiliency, and of course, their ability to prove all the skeptics wrong inevitably resonated with the hearts of millions of Canadians.
The Toronto Raptors are the 2019 NBA champions, and words cannot describe even a fraction of this unbelievable feeling.
