![Final Raptors home game, Baby Show among weekend events in Toronto. [Blasting News Database]](https://staticr1.blastingcdn.com/media/photogallery/2019/5/30/660x290/b_502x220x82/final-raptors-home-game-baby-show-among-weekend-events-in-toronto-citynewsca_2271587.jpg "Final Raptors home game, Baby Show among weekend events in Toronto. [Blasting News Database]")
For the first time since joining the NBA in 1995, the Toronto Raptors will be playing in the NBA Finals. The lone Canadian team in the NBA had tremendous success this season, compared to their last year’s campaign, after making a huge trade in the offseason shipping their franchise player DeMar DeRozan to the San Antonio Spurs for Kawhi Leonard, even Kawhi might leave them after a season. It’s safe to say that, it’s worth the risk and gamble, right?
1. Home court Advantage
For the first time, the Warriors won’t be having a home court advantage. They would be opening the finals on the road. Raptors (58-24) have a better record in the regular season compared to Warriors (57-25). That’s why they would be enjoying a home court advantage this time. If the Raptors could win the first two games in Scotiabank Arena and snatch one in the Oracle Arena, they could win it all.
2. Productive Bench
The Raptors have better bench than the Warriors. Fred VanVleet was on fire against the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference Finals. He is the X-factor that pushed the Raptors to the Finals. He shoots 82.4 percent on 17 attempts from downtown from games 4 up to 6. Here are the averages of Raptors productive bench players in their four straight wins in the ECF: Norman Powell: 13.5 points, 4.3 rebounds Fred VanVleet: 12.8 points, 3.5 assists, 3.8 3PT Serge Ibaka: 9.3 points, 7 rebounds.
3.Hungrier than the Warriors
The Golden State Warriors have been in the NBA Finals for five straight years, winning 3 out of previous 4. Remember the hungrier Cleveland Cavaliers historic 1-3 comeback to win the 2016 NBA Finals ending their 46-year title drought. That might also be the case for the Raptors.
4. Raptors defense is ferocious and versatile
Kawhi Leonard is a two-time Defensive Player of the Year. Having another vicious defender like Danny Green, one of the best three and D guards to date, they could limit the “Splash Brothers” productivity inside the court. Serge Ibaka was a 3x NBA all-defensive first team member while Marc Gasol won the 2013 Defensive Player of the Year. OG Anunoby who can defend the likes of Kevin Durant might be cleared to play in the Finals too.
5. They have “The Klaw”
Two years ago, the Kawhi Leonard-led San Antonio Spurs were killing the Golden State Warriors in game 1 of the Western Conference Finals until Zaza Pachulia slid to his ankle in a controversial defensive play. You might remember him also leading a 29-point beatdown in Kevin Durant’s regular-season debut, and torching them up for 37 points on 24 shots in his first and only game against the Warriors as Raptor. Kawhi Leonard is a two-way superstar and he might win a season MVP in the future.
