Malik Monk on the Kings 126-125 loss in Game 4, series tied 2-2 after costly mistakes on Sunday

By Jordan Ketler April 25, 2023 28 mins read 11696 Views

It's no secret that the Toronto Raptors have a passionate, loyal fan base. We believe in hard work and accountability - two essential components of success - not just with regards to the team, but also amongst our readership. If you're a Raptors enthusiast and you'd like to contribute your thoughts to our blog, we'd love to hear from you. Reach out at [email protected] for more information on how you can get involved.

No matter what happens on the court, we all support Masai Ujiri's vision and our beloved Raptors organization. We'll strive for a championship - "We the North!"

Malik Monk on the Kings 126-125 loss in Game 4, series tied 2-2 after costly mistakes on Sunday

Frequently Asked Questions

What does "We The North" actually mean?

The Toronto Raptors have used the phrase "We The North", also known by We The North Nation as an anthem. It was composed by Drake and Noah "40" Shebib.

Drake wrote the song at his Toronto apartment with a friend. Drake finished his album Take care with Kanye West. Drake decided to make lyrics about his hometown while there. He wanted it to be something that could represent all Canadians. It is about unity, pride, hope.

Drake started working on the melody for We The North when he travelled to London to film the video of his single "Nice For What." He recorded the instrumental version of the song in one take.

Drake was writing lyrics for the song when 40 suggested the chorus. Drake heard the hook and asked 40 if he could record it. They worked together to create the final product.

The official music video for "We The North Anthem" was released on October 5, 2018. The video featured Shawn Mendes, a Canadian singer-songwriter, performing with Drake and other musicians.

Why did NBA leave Vancouver?

The dispute with Vancouver City Council over arena financing led to NBA leaving Vancouver. The City planned to provide $40 million for the construction of a new arena that would feature 12 luxury suites and two restaurants. The City Council wanted to provide $60 million in taxpayer funds to team owners to repay their existing debt. This meant that the city had to borrow $200m to construct the arena. But the team owners would only have to pay back $20m. This would result in the city being responsible for paying the rest of its loan.

If the NBA would agree to keep Rogers Arena open until the opening of the new facility, the City Council was willing to approve the plan. The league, however, refused to accept the plan. They claimed that the arena was not large enough. They were not interested in playing there anymore, as it was too small. They felt asking them to continue playing in a smaller venue was unfair when they weren't getting any extra revenue.

The City Council asked for financial assistance and offered to help the province. While the province provided $150 million for the project, the City Council required another $100 million. At that point, the City decided to stop its plans and concentrate on building a new downtown arena.

How did the Raptors win 2019's NBA title?

DeMar DeRozan was traded to Toronto Raptors by Jakob Poltl (protected 2019 first-round draft pick) and a Toronto Raptors player in return for Kawhi Leonard.

On February 7, 2019, Jonas Valanciunas C.J. was traded by the Raptors to the Memphis Grizzlies. Miles, and a 2024 second-round draft pick to the Memphis Grizzlies for Marc Gasol--another multiple All-Star and former Defensive Player of the Year--and signed Jeremy Lin shortly after that.

Two big trades by the Toronto Raptors sent shockwaves through NBA. DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poltl and a 2019 first round draft pick (that was not protected) were first traded by the Raptors to the San Antonio Spurs. In exchange for those players, they received Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green from the Spurs. They traded Jonas Valanciunas and Delon Wright C. J. Miles, along with a 2024 second-round selection to the Memphis Grizzlies, were traded to Marc Gasol--another All-Star and former Defender of the Year. These moves placed the Raptors into a formidable position to compete in the NBA title race this season. Let's have a closer look at each trade.

Kawhi Leonard was traded to the Raptors as a risk-reward trade. On the one hand, Leonard is a top-5 player in the league when healthy and is coming off of an MVP-caliber season. He was injured and only played nine games last year, so there are concerns about his long-term well-being. However, the Raptors decided that the reward was worth the risk and pulled the trigger on the deal. Leonard has been healthy thus far and is playing at an All Star standard. He averages 26 points, 8 rebound, 3 assists, and 49% field goal shooting. His three-point percentage is 38%. If he keeps his health good, he could be a key to the Raptors winning the NBA title.

Marc Gasol made a trade for Marc Gasol, but it was a very short-term one. Gasol is in his thirties and is clearly out of his prime. But, he's still a good player that brings valuable experience and talent to the young Raptors. He averages 15 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists per contest while shooting 45% from 3-point range and 34% from the field. C.J. and Delon Wright, two of their young players, were traded by the Raptors. Miles was acquired by Gasol. However, the Raptors believe his expertise will prove to be valuable during playoffs.

The Raptors were off to a good start with a winning 6-0 record. Their 16th win was on November 23rd. To prevent Leonard's injury from getting worse, the Raptors rested him for 20 more games. They still managed to secure the 2nd seed East, just behind Milwaukee Bucks.

The Raptors made a strong run in the playoffs and defeated the Philadelphia 76ers in Milwaukee Bucks' finals. Leonard was named Finals MVP and the Raptors won their first title against the Golden State Warriors in game 6.

The Toronto Raptors enjoyed a successful offseason. This has been a huge success. The Raptors have two All-Stars and are ready to compete for the title in years to come. They have shown they are capable and willing to make bold moves as well as take risks when it comes to assembling a championship-level team. It will be fascinating to see if they can maintain this level of success in the future.

Statistics

This improved during the 2006–07 regular season to an average of 18,258 fans (13th in the league), 92.2 percent capacity at the Air Canada Centre. (en.wikipedia.org)
As predicted by analysts, the team easily secured a berth in the 2001 NBA playoffs with a franchise-high 47 wins. (en.wikipedia.org)
After Thomas attempted to execute a letter of intent with Slaight to purchase the team failed, he resigned from his position in November and sold his 9 percent stake in the team to Slaight. (en.wikipedia.org)
By 2018, estimated the Raptors were worth $1.4 billion, 12th in the NBA. (en.wikipedia.org)
Thomas named Raptors' GM NBA superstar to have 10% stake in the new franchise". (en.wikipedia.org)

External Links

How To

How to get the Toronto Raptors from your location

Toronto Raptors' games are held at Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. You can reach ACC via the TTC subway system. Union Station is approximately 30 minutes away from ACC. Bay Street station, which is about 30 minutes away from ACC, is the closest station.

Bay Street station is the best way to get to ACC if you are coming from Union Station. Follow the signs towards ACC. If you arrive at ACC via another direction, please take the signs to Bay Street station.

Follow the signs to the ACC from Bay Street Station.

The venue can be accessed by people with disabilities. There are special seating areas for those who require wheelchair access. Sign language interpretation is also available at the ACC.

The ACC does not charge a parking fee. Parking is not available on the streets nearby.

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