Got this idea from the Lakers forum. Even though we have only been in the NBA for a short time, this team has had some memorable games/moments. Here are mine: 2001 Playoffs-First Round-Game 5 vs. Knicks... The series is tied at two and it's winner takes all. The Raptors are in NY and its Vince (who had recently been critisized for not stepping up) who steps up, hits a clutch layup then dishes an unbelieveable pass to Alvin Williams who hits an 18 footer to seal the game. January 2000- vs. Milwaukee Bucks at the ACC- Vince explodes for 47 points (then a career high) and caps off an amazing game with an unbelieveable windmill jam the leaves the crowd in a frenzy. 2001 Playoffs-Semi-Finals-Game 3 (or 4) vs. Sixers... Vince explodes for 50 points including 8 straight 3 pointers and the crowd that night was just AMAZING. Infact, everyone in Toronto was cheering that night, it was just crazy. 1999 vs. Spurs at the ACC- Vince Carter goes for a then career-high 39 points (along with some amazing dunks) but it's cousin Tracy who hits a clutch shot to help seal the win vs. the defending Champs. and finally... 1996- Chicago Bulls vs. the Expansion Toronto Raptors The unstoppable 72-10 Bulls roll into town and the Raptors miraculously beat them. Although, if you look at the game again, you'll notice that when Steve Kerr missed the 30 foot 3-point heave with TWO seconds left, Jordan got the rebound and released a wide-open fadeaway BEFORE the shot-clock/game-clock went off but they couldn't hear it, nor did they count it due to everyone in Skydome just going nuts 3 seconds before the game was even over. Nonetheless, a fun game to watch.
For sure for me its the Raps defeating the Bulls in their inaugural season. We beat the greatest team of all time with one of the crappiest rosters that can be assembled in the NBA. In recent times, although it seems like it was a long time ago, its the 2001 Playoffs when VC Steps up in Game 5, and the Raps win their first and only Playoff series in history. Another one of my favorite moment(s), was when Vince hit 2 game winning 3 pointers, in a span of about a week, in his second season in 1999-2000. The first one coming against Boston, and the second coming against the Clippers.
^ The next week after the Clippers buzzer beater, Vince did it again, this time with a game-winning dunk over Hakeem and the Rockets. That was followed the FOLLOWING week by an Oakley gamme-winning buzzer beater in Cleveland. Wow, those were some exciting times. It was crazy because I have the top 10 "NBA Courtside" plays for that span and 2 weeks Vince had an alleyoop play at number 2 and a game-winner at number 1. His "that is a turnover!" alley-oop thrown by Mugsy in Portland came in 2nd, his Boston game winner was first (btw, that was one of the most craziest buzzer beaters I have ever seen, I watched that and went bonkers) followed the next week by his amazing "Vince Carter flying through the City Of Angels!" alley by Dee Brown at #2 then his game-winning buzzer beats against the Clippers in the same game at #1.
Best moment? Vince Carter vs AI point for point in the playoffs back when many people believed Vince to be the clean cut NBA protigy for the new generation of superstars. Although we lost that game Vince played incredable also my favorite moment was when the Raptors eliminated the Knicks basically you got all of mine on that list.
To add to the list, one of my favourite moments in Raps history is when all hope was lost when Vince got injured during the late part of the season. Then the rest of the crew stepped it up, made the playoffs and were 1 shot away from beating Detroit and advancing to the 2nd round. I always believed in miracles back then.... ***Also, the game this year when Vince sent to overtime vs. the Hawks and hit the game-winning shot (and block) was craaazy.
Memories of Raptors Past... I found my old "NBA Season preview" magazine for the 2001-2002 season. In the predictions section, they had predicted that the Raps would win the east over the bucks, and lose to the lakers in the finals in 6. They had VC listed as the #1 Fantasy Guard ( over Iverson, Kobe and Tmac), and they had VC on the ALL NBA 1st team.... Boy do i wish that season was like that.
Beating the Bulls was my favourite moment because I was there. It was an awesome game, and when Jordan missed the shot to win the game in OT (I think it was in OT?), the whole place went completely nuts.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> Jordan missed the shot to win the game in OT (I think it was in OT?), the whole place went completely nuts. </div> I have the ending to that game on tape. Maybe you didn't get to see the actual thing that happened when you were in the SkyDome because as I can imagine, everyone was probably jumping 10 seconds before the game was even over. But Kerr took a 30 feet heave with approx. 3 seconds left and he missed, at which point EVERYONE thought the game was already over and started cheering and rushing the floor when in fact there was still around 2 seconds left on the clock. Jordan got Kerr's rebound and launched a 3 pointer fadeaway, kissed it off the backboard and it went in. But everyone had already started rushing the court, officials didnt pay any attention to it and even half the Bulls players had already thought it was over. Nonetheless, the win still belonged to the Raptors. A win is a win. but just clarifying. Jordan didn't miss any shot, it was Kerr.
wow, i really want to see that game,, and how it ended....wow imagine fi tehy had counted it...it would of been called 'the shot' by raptors fans
Was that the ESPN PAGE 2 preview by Bill Simmons? I remember that as well...This was after the Sixers playoffs....and the Raptors were reloaded and all, they were one of the most feared teams in the East. We ended up in 4th place at the All-Star break and everything looked steady till we lost 13 straight but yet somehow made the playoffs. If Vince had come back, I believe we could have beaten Detriot. SLAM had also predicted us to be #1 in the East (or Central, I don't remember) that year.
