Toronto Raptors: Across The Border
The Toronto Raptors are the second youngest franchise in the NBA. They were founded in Canada in 1995 and are currently the only team in the NBA playing outside U.S. borders. After a rocky start, the Raptors successfully earned a spot in the playoffs for 3 consecutive years, beginning in 2000. However, they were disappointed each time, returning home defeated.
While their performance lagged during the mid to late 1990's, the 1994 appointment of legendary player Isiah Thomas as the team's General Manager excited the fans. Thomas immediately began hiring people he trusted for key managerial roles on the team. The Raptors posted impressive numbers during the first few years, leading up to their streak of playoff appearances in 2000. The only black mark on the franchise during this period was in 1997. Several players were forced to sit out games due to injuries and Thomas eventually resigned as GM after his bid to own the team was rejected.
In 2000, the Raptors finally earned their first opportunity to participate in the playoffs. However, their inexperience was obvious and they were swept by the New York Knicks. Lenny Wilkens, a well-respected coach, was hired for the 2001 season. He quickly made changes to the roster and led the franchise to their second playoff appearance. They beat the Knicks during the first round, but were eventually defeated in the second round by the Philadelphia 76ers.
The franchise barely managed to secure a spot in the 2002 playoffs. However, they were defeated during the first round in Game 5 largely due to a last-second missed shot by guard Chris Childs. The next year marked a multi-season decline in the Raptors performance, optimism, and motivation. Finally, in 2006, another shakeup in the roster resulted in the Raptors advancing to the playoffs and eventually winning their first division title.
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Visiting Air Canada Centre
Today, the Toronto Raptors play in the 665,000 square foot Air Canada Centre. It has an NBA seating capacity of 19,800. Fan anticipation for the coming season is notably high and tickets are often hard to purchase. In fact, the franchise consistently sold out games during the early 2000's and sales continue to be brisk. To see the Raptors perform live on their way to a Conference title, reserve your seats well in advance.