What is your favorite part of the Raptors being in the Finals ..

[KeonClark]

I love the bandwagoners. The more the merrier I say. Those bandwagoners just might become real fans that join RR and go to bars regularly and force the tide of more and more basketball being available to more and more people. Nothing but a good thing.

A large portion of us RR guys were birthed by Vince Carter iirc..I know that's when I fell in love with the sport

so yes, these good times certainly do create life long fans

[slaw]

I would love to see a statistic on where basketball compares to baseball in Canada amongst the under 30 crowd...or even moreso, the under 20 crowd.

It'll never compete with hockey, but if basketball could one day establish a baseball like foothold in Canada that would be amazing

One of the gratifying things for me is that some people in my life, who rarely if ever watch basketball, have started watching since the Bucks series and they are pretty into the Finals. I'm even getting texts like, alright, this is more exciting than the hockey game. I also got my 80-year old mother in law hooked on it and now she's right into the games - I had to explain to her what a box-and-one defense was to her when I started shouting it out in the fourth quarter.

As for a foothold, I do think this matters. A lot of basketball fans out west, at least older ones, never card about the Raps because they both hate Toronto and because the organization was a complete irrelevancy to the NBA. If they manage to win, I think they'll convert some fans and they will definitely attract a whole new segment of young, casual sports fans. That's what you need to get a foothold.

[The Great One]

I love the bandwagoners. The more the merrier I say. Those bandwagoners just might become real fans that join RR and go to bars regularly and force the tide of more and more basketball being available to more and more people. Nothing but a good thing.

Doubt it. I mean, look at the Blue Jays. Skydome was sold out every game in 2015 and 2016 season. Now you watch a Blue Jays game and there's like 3000-5000 people every game lol. Bandwagoners gonna bandwagon.

[Joey]

Interesting. Yeah, we're a LOT further away from that around here. Very conservative region as you guys know, and I'm in the heart of conservative country. You still get a lot of the "basketball players are pussies" "ego" and yes even the, "thugs" type of veiled comments...and I'm talking from guys in their 20s, not just old men.

Gross. I'm sorry to hear that. Lol

[Joey]

All the basketball/Raptors bandwagoners who have no clue what they're talking about.

I love the bandwagoners. The more the merrier I say. Those bandwagoners just might become real fans that join RR and go to bars regularly and force the tide of more and more basketball being available to more and more people. Nothing but a good thing.

[KeonClark]

Maybe not out where you are in the prairies, but 10-20 years from now, basketball will most definitely compete with hockey in the city of Toronto and surrounding areas. The demographic here is changing rapidly. You're seeing major new community centers being built without hockey arenas as the rule, not the exception and more and more indoor/outdoor basketball courts. You're seeing more standup basketball hoops on the street, not hockey nets. Half of my son's friends don't even follow hockey, but they know Lebron James, Steph Curry and the main Raptors.

The stats aren't registering yet because the powers that be (advertisers, media giants, etc...) haven't figured out how to gain full control of on-line streaming revenue yet.

Interesting. Yeah, we're a LOT further away from that around here. Very conservative region as you guys know, and I'm in the heart of conservative country. You still get a lot of the "basketball players are pussies" "ego" and yes even the, "thugs" type of veiled comments...and I'm talking from guys in their 20s, not just old men.

[The Great One]

All the basketball/Raptors bandwagoners who have no clue what they're talking about.

[golden]

I would love to see a statistic on where basketball compares to baseball in Canada amongst the under 30 crowd...or even moreso, the under 20 crowd.

It'll never compete with hockey, but if basketball could one day establish a baseball like foothold in Canada that would be amazing

Maybe not out where you are in the prairies, but 10-20 years from now, basketball will most definitely compete with hockey in the city of Toronto and surrounding areas. The demographic here is changing rapidly. You're seeing major new community centers being built without hockey arenas as the rule, not the exception and more and more indoor/outdoor basketball courts. You're seeing more standup basketball hoops on the street, not hockey nets. Half of my son's friends don't even follow hockey, but they know Lebron James, Steph Curry and the main Raptors.

The stats aren't registering yet because the powers that be (advertisers, media giants, etc...) haven't figured out how to gain full control of on-line streaming revenue yet.

[SkywalkerAC]

It's just a surreal experience (which I love). Also, the euphoria - winning game 6 and game 1 - doesn't hurt.

[KeonClark]

I'm loving that this moment in basketball history is shaping our kids' outlook of sports in Canada. We are far from being "just" a hockey town/country. The interest in basketball within Canada spiked in the VC era and it's done so once again. Looking forward to seeing the Canadian talent that will reach the NBA in the future as a result of this playoff run.

I would love to see a statistic on where basketball compares to baseball in Canada amongst the under 30 crowd...or even moreso, the under 20 crowd.

It'll never compete with hockey, but if basketball could one day establish a baseball like foothold in Canada that would be amazing

[LJ2]

I have always felt like being a Raptor fan in Toronto is like being a second class citizen . I am just loving that people like my wife who would never watch basketball are now glued for 3 hours watching the NBA Finals . I love that that radio stations who covered NBA playoffs and finals previously as a back page story are now talking Raptors 24/7 ...

I'm loving that this moment in basketball history is shaping our kids' outlook of sports in Canada. We are far from being "just" a hockey town/country. The interest in basketball within Canada spiked in the VC era and it's done so once again. Looking forward to seeing the Canadian talent that will reach the NBA in the future as a result of this playoff run.

[KeonClark]

I haven't had to painfully watch the Jays as much
Still watching the Stanley Cup going on, great series so far
Bought a new boat and BBQ for the cottage
Will we ever get great weather for Kawhi to experience?

No matter what it's been a great year

I like how you casually snuck in a personal flex in the middle

[G__Deane]

I haven't had to painfully watch the Jays as much
Still watching the Stanley Cup going on, great series so far
Bought a new boat and BBQ for the cottage
Will we ever get great weather for Kawhi to experience?

No matter what it's been a great year

[Apollo]

Technically, we all are..unless you're one of those guys who watches summer league games on youtube

I'm one of those guys in Dynasty league who follows ball 365. No picks this year and Raptors playoffs fatigue starting to set in all has me going on a long break to September... I want to know what Kawhi does in July of course but I won't need minute to minute rumors (mostly lies).

[suspenders]

- The energy in the city (don't care if there are a ton of bandwagon fans... even if some of them stick, that's good for the Raptors and good for the sport of basketball)
- Kawhi Leonard
- Watching basketball this intently in June! Sure, I've always watched the finals, but not like this. And I definitely wouldn't forgo my 10 PM bed time to watch the Cavs & Warriors.
- And finally, knowing that we have a chance to win this series and bring a championship to Toronto.