Results tagged “atlanticdivision”

Torontoist is ending the year by naming our Heroes and Villains of 2007––the people, places, and things that we've either fallen head over heels in love with or developed uncontrollable rage towards over the past twelve months. Get your dose, starting Boxing Day and running into the new year, three times a day––sunrise, noon, and sunset.

Raptors fans have had to suffer a lot of humiliation over the last few years: There was the Vince Carter trade debacle, there was the night that Kobe Bryant dropped 81 points, and there was the 1-15 start last season that had ESPN speculating that the Raptors might be one of the worst teams in NBA history. But, the absolute low-point for the franchise came on the afternoon of October 16, 2005 in a pre-season exhibition game against Maccabi Tel Aviv, the Euroleague Champions. Tel Aviv’s Anthony Parker (who is now a Raptor) nailed a last-second jump shot to down the Raps 105-103. It is the only time that an international squad has ever beaten an NBA team on North American soil.

Don’t look now, but the Toronto Raptors are only 2 games out of third place in the Eastern Conference. Currently sitting 10th, and three and a half games back of the streaking Chicago Bulls for the final playoff spot, the Raps can thank the NBA playoff structure and their abysmal Atlantic division for their opportunity at a home court playoff series. Despite how poor a record, the division leader is guaranteed a top-three seed. With their play of late, the 18 and 24 Raptors have a strong chance of securing the division title. Torontoist is thrilled with the Raptors turnaround, while equally excited that Vince Carter’s New Jersey Nets sit dead last in the same Atlantic Division.