History isn’t exactly on Raptors’ side
Despite NBA’s Toronto roots, Warriors have the experience
The first NBA game was in Toronto. And now, the NBA Finals are finally headed there.
The NBA Finals are set after the Raptors won the Eastern Conference title Saturday night and earned the right to play the Western Conference champion Warriors. For the Raptors, it’ll be the first time on this stage; for the Warriors, it’ll be an 11th trip to the finals and fifth in a row as they look for a fourth crown in the last five seasons.
Game 1 is Thursday night in Toronto, which will become the first city outside the U.S. to play host to a finals game — a milestone that comes just about 73 years after Toronto was the site of the first game in NBA history.
The Raptors weren’t around then: Toronto’s first NBA team was called the Huskies, a club that went 22-38 in its only season. The Raptors have been around since 1995, and in their 24th season they’re finally going to play for a ring.
“They’re the champions,” Raptors star Kawhi Leonard said of the Warriors. “We’ve got to go in, have the mental focus, enjoy the moment and take the challenge.”
While it is the first finals trip for the Raptors franchise, many players on the team have been there. Leonard and Danny Green got there with the Spurs in 2013 and 2014, with Leonard winning MVP of the series against the Heat five years ago. Serge Ibaka was with Oklahoma City for its appearance in 2012, and Raptors reserve Patrick McCaw was part of the Warriors’ title runs the last two seasons.
“We’re not satisfied,” Raptors President Masai Ujiri said. “We want to win the championship.”
Warriors coach Steve Kerr has a chance to win a ninth championship. He won five as a player, has three as a coach and is going to the finals for the 10th time in his last 13 seasons in either of those roles.
“It’s not like we’ve come to expect it, but we’re veterans of this experience and this run and our guys know how to finish games,” Kerr said. “They know how to win playoff series, and so there’s a sense of confidence going into every round. There’s still a sense of joy and accomplishment getting to the finals. It’s so hard to do.”