#WeTheNorth
The Raptors will finally be on top
It is time to welcome the team of the North to the world of basketball champions.
Say goodbye to the Golden State Warriors because their reign as NBA champions is coming to an end. The team that joined the NBA just 24 years ago will finally be on top of the basketball world.
The Toronto Raptors have not had an abundance of success in the postseason since joining the NBA as an expansion team in 1995. They have a total of zero conference championships, which means zero NBA titles. Countless struggles have come their way besides being such a dominant team in the regular season the past few years.
The 2017 and 2018 playoffs were not kind to the Raptors as they saw two unfortunate exits due to the dominance of Lebron James by getting swept 0–4 in back-to-back postseasons. With Lebron’s move to the Western Conference and absence from the postseason this year they are poised to make it to the place they have never reached, The Finals.
The Raptors roster consists of perennial all-stars Kawhi Leonard and Kyle Lowry. Marc Gasol, a mid-season acquisition, is a former three-time all-star who also is a big (7’1”) threat on the court. Coming off the bench is the seasoned veteran and Raptors block leader, Serge Ibaka, while alongside him are the consistent Fred VanVleet and Norman Powell.
In this year’s playoffs the Raptors took the first round with a controlling four games to one series win over the Orlando Magic. They are currently up 3–2 on the Philadelphia 76ers in which they just finished punishing them with a 125–89 victory in game 5.
Kawhi Leonard, the teams’ offseason acquisition, is averaging 32.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 3.4 assists this postseason and is leading the team in both points and rebounds. He is not only leading his team in points, but is averaging the second most points in the postseason behind superstar Kevin Durant.
The Raptors hold a new identity this year and will not fall victim to the hideous sweep. The 76ers are running out of luck and seems as though they have nothing left to give in this postseason. The Milwaukee Bucks, most likely the Raptors next round opponents, are not deep enough to compete with Toronto in a seven game series and will also fall short in reaching the promise land.
Meanwhile, the Golden State Warriors had a grueling first round series against the eighth seeded Los Angeles Clippers. Not only did they have their struggles against the Clippers but thanks to James Harden and company the Houston Rockets are giving the Warriors a run for their money in their series which is currently tied at two games a piece.
If the Warriors do not make it out of the Western Conference it is hard to believe any other contender will give the Raptors a run for their money. I should not fail to mention that the Raptors are 2–0 against the Warriors in the regular season as well, and beat them by a solid 20 points in their last meeting. The Warriors, who are title favorites for a third time in a row, will have their work cut out for them if they want any chance at winning another title.
The team of the North will soon be the team of the NBA.
