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had some stellar compe ion to go against
I realize this thread could very well be an exercise in futility, but I'm too pumped to care.
Three cheers for the Raptors- the Atlantic Division Champs who are about to take the play offs by storm!
Raptors Clinch Division
Toronto erased a halftime deficit and rolled past host Philadelphia, 94-85, on Friday to clinch its first division le in franchise history
Chris Bosh had 23 points, 13 rebounds and four steals
http://www.nba.com/raptors/news/postup_040607.html
April 6, 2007
PHILADELPHIA(AP) -- The Toronto Raptors are taking the Atlantic Division le north of the border.
Chris Bosh had 23 points and 13 rebounds for his seventh straight double-double to help Toronto win its first division le with a 94-85 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night.
``It's a start,'' coach Sam Mitc said. ``You come to all of these arenas and they have division championship banners up in the rafters. If you are trying to start a culture of winning, these guys need to start seeing the fruits of their labour and those things are important.''
The Raptors, who already clinched their first post-season berth since 2002, won the Atlantic when Chicago beat New Jersey 105-74 later Friday night. It marked the first time a Canadian-based team won a division le.
Toronto also kept its slim lead over Miami for third place in the Eastern Conference, which would set the Raptors up nicely for a first-round matchup against injury-ravaged Washington.
The Raptors began the season with 2-8 start that gave little hint the playoffs were a possibility. Toronto's 43 wins this season are a 16-win improvement for last season's total of 27, the biggest turnaround in the NBA this season.
``I think it means a lot, especially with the quick turnaround that we've had this year,'' Bosh said. ``It's a great thing. This team overcame a lot of adversity early. Now we have to look ahead to clinching that third spot.''
Anthony Parker, Juan Dixon and T.J. Ford each added 12 points for the Raptors. Toronto had not won a le since its inaugural 1995-96 season, coming in with a .392 career winning percentage and three winning records.
``Nobody believed we'd be able to win our division,'' Ford said. ``Now we're setting standards of how Toronto basketball will be like.''
Andre Iguodala scored 20 points, Montreal native Samuel Dalembert had 15 points, and Andre Miller had 10 points and 11 assists for the Sixers.
The Raptors took control for good with a 15-0 run to close the third quarter that saw all the starters do a little bit of something to contribute, taking some off the load off Bosh.
Bosh has been sensational all season, but especially of late, while the Raptors make their postseason push. He averaged 25.2 points and 13.8 rebounds in his last five games, all without Andrea Bargnani (appendectomy) and Jorge Garbajosa (ankle) to help him in the frontcourt.
``I know I have to pick up my play,'' Bosh said. ``It's near playoff time. I have to step up my role, make sure I'm rebounding, make sure I'm taking good shots and doing my role as the leader on this team.''
The Raptors made 10 straight baskets late in the third quarter to build a 73-61 lead. Parker hit a three that tied the game at 61 and Bosh, who was sharp from the perimeter all game, put the Raptors ahead for good for a jumper from the top of the key.
Parker swished a three from the left side to cap the run.
``I couldn't stop it,'' Sixers coach Maurice Cheeks said.
Iguodala made a free throw to open the fourth quarter and end the Sixers' scoreless drought. But the Raptors kept rolling and stretched the lead to 87-71 on a Dixon jumper with 6:29 left. That was Toronto's last field goal of the game, allowing the Sixers to pull to 88-81 on Kyle Korver's three.
Bosh made four free throws in the final two minutes to seal the win and make them find the nearest TV to see if they'd win the division.
``You have to have your defence pick you up,'' Korver said. ``That was the hole we put ourselves in and we didn't have enough to dig ourselves out.''
Notes The Raptors had no fastbreak points and no second-chance baskets. ... Ford left briefly in the third quarter with a split lip. ... The Raptors are only 16-23 on the road.
had some stellar compe ion to go against
Pretty Ploto!
Still, it's a great achievement for a team that hadn't made the playoffs for a long time
Are you a Raptor fan or a Spur fan?
Raptors have some of the nicest jerseys in the league, good for them to finally get some of their team clicking and ready to go. I wouldn't be shocked to see the Raps in the ECF.
New Jersey, New York, Boston, and Philly should all be ashamed of this. No matter how you look at this, it's impressive to think that Toronto beat out all these large market teams.
Bosh should be up for the MVP this year
Toronto is a VERY large market team itself. I'd say bigger than Jersey and possibly Philly now due to Iverson being no longer there to support that franchise. They have a ton of fans that go to the game in the Air Canada Centre, and probably a very big international market now with their international players (much like the Spurs have).
Everybody knows that Rasho is who makes that team click.
props to the raptors, they are a good, young team and player well in the second half of the season...if they matchup against the wizards, they should have a nice route to the second round
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