With one of the best GMs in Masai Ujiri, and dedication from the players and coaching staff, we believe we are on our way back to another championship.
Our goal is to provide a platform for people passionate about Toronto Raptos basketball through blogs, forums, news updates and much more. We're looking for people who want to participate in our blog by writing articles and/or sharing their stories about anything related to Raptors culture and great moments of this team's history on the court over the years. If you would like to make an impact on our platform then please feel free to send us an email at [email protected]
We understand that being part of this culture is more than wins or losses but we also have the responsibility of setting a positive example by stressing individual responsibility, showing respect towards others and fostering values within team spirit.
And when times are tough, we'll stand side by side - We The North!
Frequently Asked Questions
How many NBA teams are there in Canada?
The Toronto Raptors were the Canadian NBA's only team in 2001. The Vancouver Grizzlies used to be an NBA team between 1995 and 2001. In 2001, however, they relocated to Memphis where they became the Memphis Grizzlies. Canada did have the Vancouver Grizzlies (and the Toronto Raptors) for a time, but there are no NBA teams in Canada. Canadians still love basketball and make trips to the United States to see the games. The Toronto Raptors, a team known for its fame since 1995, continue to attract large crowds at Scotiabank Arena. Hundreds of Canadians also travel annually to attend the NBA All-Star Weekend in the United States. With a population of over 38 million, Canada can have more than one NBA team. Many North American basketball enthusiasts have discussed the possibility of adding a second team. The Toronto Raptors will continue to be the only Canadian representative in the NBA.
Canadian Elite Basketball League, (CEBL), is a Canadian-based professional basketball league. This league features six teams from Canadian cities and towns, including Fraser Valley Bandits (Abbotsford, BC), Edmonton Stingers (Edmonton, Alberta), Guelph Nighthawks (Guelph, Ontario), Hamilton Honey Badgers (Hamilton, Ontario), Saskatchewan Rattlers (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan), and Niagara River Lions (St. Catharines, Ontario). The CEBL is the only professional basketball league operating in Canada currently.
From 2011 to 2020 the National Basketball League of Canada, a professional league for men's basketball, operated. It had eight teams representing eight cities: Moncton (Moncton), Saint John, Cape Breton; Summerside, London; Windsor, Windsor, and Kitchener. The COVID-19 pandemic led to the closure of operations at the NBLC in 2020.
Canada also has junior basketball leagues, such as the Canadian National Basketball League (CNB), a semi-professional men's league based in Vancouver, BC. CNB has teams from British Columbia and Alberta as well as Manitoba and Ontario. Canadian Elite Development League is another Canadian junior basketball league. It consists mainly of teams from the Greater Toronto Area. AC) and the Canadian Youth Basketball League (CYBL). These leagues give young basketball players an opportunity to learn and compete in a competitive setting.
What is the name and origin of the Toronto Raptors' Mascot?
The Toronto Raptors is an NBA franchise that was founded in 1995. They play at Scotiabank Arena.
Raptor is the Raptors' mascot. He is a giant, red dinosaur. Raptor first appeared in 1995. Raptor also appears at community events and charity events throughout Toronto. He was honored with the NBA Mascot of the YEAR award for his years of service to the Raptors. Raptor, a beloved figure around Toronto and in the NBA, is one of the most prominent mascots within professional sports. He has also become an international symbol of Canada's basketball fandom.
Many throughout the city and country share Raptor's enthusiasm for his team and its fans. Raptor's leadership has made the Raptors one of the most popular teams in the NBA, winning the 2019 NBA championship. This victory marked a huge milestone for basketball fans in Toronto and Canada. Raptor remains a major source for pride for those who are Raptors fans. There will be plenty of Raptors pride as long as he's around. The Raptor will live on! Go, Toronto Raptors!
What was it like to be a Toronto Raptors fan for the first year?
The Toronto Raptors first season in the NBA proved to be difficult. Brendan Malone was hired as the head coach and Isiah THOMAS became GM. In 1995, the Raptors were established. Many talented players were drafted and traded for. They beat the Chicago Bulls once, but overall finished with a 21 - 61 win-loss record.
Toronto drafted Marcus Camby in 1996. Camby became Rookie Of The Year and was a part of the starting line up with Alvin Williams, at point guard. Damon Stoudamire, who was later traded, was also traded. Toronto tried to build a foundation to succeed in the future by making more roster changes.
Despite all these changes, the team has struggles in its first few seasons of the NBA. After a period of transition and rebuilding, Toronto finally made its first playoff appearance in 2000 but lost the series to the New York Knicks.
When was the Raptors' inaugural game?
The Raptors vs. New Jersey Nets was their first regular-season match at the SkyDome. Alvin Robertson scored the franchise's first points with 33,306 supporters in attendance. The Raptors defeated Nets in 94-79. Contributions from Damon Stoudamire (10 and 10 assists), as well as Robertson (30 pts) were key.
What happened to the Toronto Raptors after Kawhi Leonard left?
It was a huge year for Toronto Raptors. The Raptors won 53 playoff games in the 2020 season. All-Star point-guard Kyle Lowry played a major role in the team's success. Lowry averaged 19.7 ppg, 7.5 assists and 4.8 rebounds per contest. Pascal Siakam, an All-Star forward, was also a part of Lowry's team. He averaged 22.9 ppg and 8.3 rebound per game. Role players like Norman Powell and Fred VanVleet also made strong contributions to the Raptors' success. The team's depth and talent helped them to overcome injuries to key players like Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka.
The team was lead by Nick Nurse (Coach of the Year) and Pascal Siakam (All NBA Second Teamer). . Coach Nurse made bold strategic decisions that paid off, and Siakam emerged as a superstar, averaging nearly 20+ points per game. Kyle Lowry, his sixth consecutive selection to the NBA All-Star team in 2020, was named.
The playoffs began later than usual this year, in August, at the "Bubble" in Bay Lake, Florida, near Orlando. The Raptors faced off against the Brooklyn Nets in the first round and won 4-0. The Raptors lost 0-2 to the Boston Celtics in round two, but OG Anunoby scored a buzzer-beater for Toronto's third game. The series ended up going to seven games with Boston winning.
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. To pay down existing debt, the City Council wanted the $60 million taxpayer money that the City Council would give to the team owner. The city would need to borrow $200 million to construct the arena. However, the owners of the team only had to repay $20 million in debt. This would mean that the city's taxpayers would be responsible for paying back the rest of the loan.
The City Council indicated that they would approve the plan if Rogers Arena was allowed to remain until the new facility is opened. The league refused to sign on, claiming that the arena was no longer large enough. They were not interested in playing there anymore, as it was too small. They felt that asking them to play in a smaller venue was unfair, especially since they weren't making any additional revenue.
The City Council requested financial assistance from the province in return. While the province provided $150 million for the project, the City Council required another $100 million. The City decided to focus its efforts on building a new downtown arena and dropped its plans.
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)
- 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)
- By 2018, estimated the Raptors were worth $1.4 billion, 12th in the NBA. (en.wikipedia.org)
- In November of the 1996–97 season, Bitove sold his ownership interest in the team to Slaight for $65 million after Slaight had activated a shotgun clause in their partnership agreement,[32][33] giving Slaight 79 percent control of the team, [34] (en.wikipedia.org)
External Links
assets1.sportsnet.ca/basketball/nba/teams/toronto-raptors
sportingnews.com/ca
basketball-reference.com
nba.com/raptors
How To
Can I bring my photo camera to a Raptors match?
You will be fine if your plan is followed. There's nothing wrong with bringing a camera to an NBA game. There is nothing illegal about this. But you do need to be aware of the risks involved.
First, you must consider whether you must take pictures during the game. You don't need a heavy DSLR or smartphone to take great photos as long as you are near the court.
You should also check these tips to improve your basketball photos if sports photography is something you are interested in.
The second thing you must think about is which camera you are going to be using. You will need a professional-grade digital camera if your goal is to capture action shots or memorable moments with friends.
Also, you need to consider how much time it will take to set up your shot. You might consider buying a tripod and remote release if you plan to shoot hoops with your children.
You must also decide where you will store your gear. You can't expect anyone to hand you a SD card or set up shop in an arena. Either pack extra batteries, cables, SD card cards, or locate somewhere to keep your stuff during the game.
If you want to take great photographs at sporting events, plan ahead. You will be able to capture great images that you can enjoy for years to come.
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