Over the course of their 24 years in the NBA, the Toronto Raptors have had their share of ups and downs. Trials and tribulations. Great seasons that have energized not just the city of Toronto but the entire country of Canada, and bad stretches that drained its battery.
They started out with rightful optimism - Isiah Thomas as the team's first ever General Manager, electric point guard Damon Stoudamire as its first ever draft pick. Those early years where the Raptors learned the hard way were alleviated, in 1998, by the arrival of Vince Carter, who put the country on his back, made basketball popular in Canada, and elevated the Raptors to heights it had never been - national TV games on NBC, and to the brink of the Eastern Conference Finals. The Raptors, surrounding the superstar Carter with great veterans, were legitimate contenders in the conference.
Following the shocking trade of Carter, an era ended. The team went from perennial contenders to bottom feeder-to middle of the pack over next several seasons, going through growing pains with a young Chris Bosh and then making the playoffs but proving no serious threat. Lately, they have contended in the Eastern Conference, year in and year out winning 50 plus, including last season where Dwane Casey won the Coach of the Year Award.
But this year, there has been a different feel. Kawhi Leonard has injected real juice into the city again, and this time, they are legitimate. A superstar of Leonard's level makes them real contenders, the veteran additions by Masai Ujiri coupled with solid young role players have made this team credible. The Raptors had their great teams over the years, but never has their been this level of optimism, hope, and real feel that they could do it like there has been this year.
It is why tonight, with the team having a chance to advance to the NBA Finals as they carry a 3-2 lead over the Milwaukee Bucks - the team with best record and defense in the NBA this season - is the biggest night in franchise history.
For the Raptor fans who have been there since the beginning - the ones who remember the names Carlos Rodgers, Zan Tabak, Tracy Murray, and Oliver Miller - tonight can erase the years of pain, the years of dashed hopes, the seemingly never ending yearning for a real shot. For the Raptor fans who have caught on in recent years, it means getting to appreciate when you have a team that is a viable threat.
This is a franchise that has had trouble attracting free agents, for whatever reason. Whether it is because guys don't want to live in another country, the high taxes, the weather, they have never landed that big summer fish. It is why the deal to get Leonard was so important, regardless of whether he stays or not. He has given them a team that has this fan base saying "why not us?" for the first time.
Expansion draft journeymen. Half empty arenas. Unknown foreign talent. Bad coaches, bad trades.
All of it can be forgotten tonight if, when the clock strikes 0:00, the home team has more points.
The biggest night, in a franchise named after a summer hit movie, is tonight.
No doubt about it.
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