As mentioned previously, the Toronto Raptors are in the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history. Their maiden season was in 1995-1996; this was the year my Houston Rockets were the two-time defending NBA champions in our Clutch City seasons (1993-1994 and 1994-1995). Usually when I think of the Raptors, I usually think of bad boy Vince Carter and his vicious dunks. I knew that Toronto could still be the Eastern representative in the NBA Finals. Now, I'm right. So I'm proud for the Toronto Raptors and how far they've come over the years, and I am not just saying that because of former Rockets who played or still play for Toronto.
Toronto is the only remaining Canadian NBA team even as the Vancouver Grizzlies eventually became the Memphis Grizzlies. Basketball was invented by James Naismith- a Canadian. Every NBA champion since the first NBA Finals back in 1947 have all been from the United States. If Toronto somehow defeats the Golden State Warriors in a seven-game NBA Finals series, they will become the first non-American team to win the NBA Championship. They (of course) won't be "World Champions" even though we do have two teams of a domestic American league representing two different countries. It would be just the same as if we had (for example) the St. Louis Blues and the Toronto Maple Leafs playing for the Stanley Cup. Some people just want Toronto to win it all just to end the monotony of Golden State winning it all yet again.
Now that we've had time to soak in the NBA Finals series to come between the Golden State Warriors and the Toronto Raptors, it's that time again. Tell it time! Who will win the NBA Championship between Golden State and Toronto, and (optional) in how many games? The NBA Finals begin this Thursday in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
By the way... I think I read the 2018-2019 Milwaukee Bucks are the 3rd-ever 60+ win team to be defeated in a playoff series by losing four straight games.
[UPDATE] Game 1 is Golden State AT Toronto, not Toronto at Golden State. Changes made.