Just the other day, I wrote that until I saw the Raptors hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy high in the air, I would refuse to believe it could happen. Well, I saw it last night, and I think I’m still trying to comprehend what we all just witnessed.
On one end, I’m happy for a city, nay, a country, that rallied behind a single organization since 1995. Raptors fans deserve to be rewarded for a 24-year stretch that feels defined by the words “just not good enough.” Heck, Toronto could never win a Championship. How could they? It’s NBA Siberia, no free agents are going to sign there. Vince Carter forced his way out. Chris Bosh left. DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry were split up. Kawhi Leonard would only be there for a year, and you can’t win a championship after throwing all your eggs in a one-year basket, right!?
Wrong.
The Raptors took almost every perceived NBA notion and turned it right on its head. And then they shoved that head straight into the ground like an ostrich. You have to love it.
Now, on the other end, we saw a great dynasty hit a massive speed bump. The series has not only changed our preconceived notions regarding how to win a championship, but it also changed many of our thoughts about the future of the NBA. Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson both suffered a career-altering injury in a result of this series. And this is, most likely, why there was a look of contentment on the faces of the Warriors players once this was all finally over.
The 2019 NBA Finals gave us storylines that could fill an entire NBA offseason. Instead, we have to close that chapter and move on to what’s next. Congrats Toronto.
Your turn, Chicago.
Alright #NBA fans, we have some #NBAFinals2019 halftime reading for ya! @MarkSchanowski answers YOUR questions in our latest #Bulls Mailbag, including breaking down the ongoing trade rumors https://t.co/IXCIFLZUCy
— Bulls Talk (@NBCSBulls) June 14, 2019
Fred VanVleet with the shoutout for Rockford. This is the 14th time in the last 15 seasons an Illinois prep player will have his name on the Larry O'Brien trophy (if they did that kind of thing). Chicago, Peoria, Springfield, Tolono, Oak Park, Maywood all represented in the run. https://t.co/U29Zv7DZJs
— Mark Potash (@MarkPotash) June 14, 2019
2 of most painful moments in Bulls franchise history happened in what is now called Oracle Arena. Lost Game 7 of Western Conference finals on May 14, 1975. Michael Jordan broke bone in left foot on Oct. 29, 1985.
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) June 14, 2019
Just a friendly reminder that Raptors Head Coach Nick Nurse and assistant coach Adrian Griffin were both former members of the #Bulls organization.
Goodnight!
— Elias Schuster (@Schuster_Elias) June 14, 2019
https://twitter.com/BullsArchive/status/1139527269171511297?s=20
"I want my chips with the dip!"
.@Drake puts the @Raptors first NBA Championship into words. (via TheCarlanGay/Twitter) pic.twitter.com/oThPf8D9Z0
— SportsNation (@SportsNation) June 14, 2019