Following a stunning comeback Saturday, Canadian sports fans appear to be in full-on ‘Raptor mode’.
The Raptors were trailing Milwaukee most of the game, by as much as 15 into the third quarter, then Fred VanVleet got hot and the Raptors were back in the game.
Then Kawhi Leonard did what he has the entire playoffs and that is be a beast on both ends of the court, finishing the game with 27 points, and more importantly seven assists and 17 rebounds to anchor the team.
When the final buzzer had sounded the Raptors had won 100-94, taking four straight from the Bucks after losing the opening two games of the NBA east final.
The win puts the Raptors into the NBA final for the first time in their 24-year history, and suddenly the country is filled with basketball fans.
If you are a sports fan it’s hard not to jump on the Raptor bandwagon, even if basketball is not your first choice of sports.
Leonard is the most workman-like athlete in pro sports. He is focused, never gets too excited whether when making a great shot, or too upset in the face of a poor officials’ call, which happens too often in the NBA. Leonard just does his job, doing it better than arguably anyone in the league.
While Leonard might not win fans on personality Pascal Siakim, Kyle Lowry and VanVleet are likeable. There is a sense of purpose without arrogance that has been part of the Raptors the last few years that makes the team easy to cheer for.
So the NBA finals will be must-watch television starting tomorrow evening (Thursday).
The Raptors face one of the most dominant teams in sport over the last have decade, and in terms of the NBA might be as good a team over that time as any team has ever been.
Led by Stephen Curry, who himself has a claim in the best-player-in-the-NBA tag, the Warriors have lost only two games in the playoffs this season, and this is the fifth straight visit to the finals for Golden State, so it’s a big ask for a Raptor win.
But, win, or lose, this is the best ever season for the Raptors, and in a Canadian market growing into its love of basketball, this is a key moment. This is where a country can come together to follow the team as never before, much as happened when the Toronto Blue Jays won the World Series for the first time in 1992.
In another league on the weekend the Calgary Roughnecks needed overtime but they captured the National Lacrosse League title by taking a two-game-to-none final’s series win over Buffalo.
The final, a 14-13 classic in front of more than 17,000 at the Saddledome in Calgary, was about as exciting a lacrosse game as you can get. Great win by the Roughnecks.
Team Canada also needs a pat on the back for its efforts at the International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship. Sadly, to be sure, a roster full of big names from NHL teams out of the playoffs stayed home, but the players who took up the challenge to wear the Canadian jersey did well getting to the gold medal game.
In the finals the Canadians met a team from Finland, a team with only two NHL players on the roster, but still masterful at systems. The Finnish team defeated Sweden in overtime to open their playoff run, then topped highly-favoured Russia 1-0, then topped Canada 3-1.
Having watched all the Canadian games I have to say I was impressed by the effort, and Sunday’s game was a definite gem.
