Raptors Prove They’re For Real

Here’s a statement you might not have believed just a few years ago – the Raptors are for real.

After missing the playoffs season after season and being decried as one of the league’s doormats, Toronto’s NBA team has slowly built itself into a force to be reckoned with.

The Miami Heat learned that the hard way Wednesday night, when the Raps outplayed them in a 96-83 win.

Perhaps what’s most remarkable about the team is not what they have but what they don’t – some key players.

Number one draft pick Andrea Bargnani is out indefinitely after an emergency appendicitis attack earlier this month. And Jorge Garbajosa is gone for the season after breaking his left ankle in Boston on Monday night.

Yet, the Raptors keep winning, as others – including star Chris Bosh – step up to fill in the gaps.

Bosh made it look easy again at the ACC ringing up 13 points and 17 rebounds to beat the Heat. His performance made him the all time career leader for the team in double-doubles with 111, one more than Antonio Davis.

But while it used to be enough to simply try to make the playoffs, the Atlantic Division-leaders now have their sights set on an entirely different goal – keeping a grip on first place and winning home court advantage.

If the season ended now, Toronto would play Miami and the first two games would be at the Air Canada Centre.

“We want to get home court,” Bosh admits. “It’s great being division champions and getting the four seed, but at the end of the day you don’t have that home court advantage.

“With all the guys inexperienced in the playoffs, including me, I think we should try to kick it off at home.”

Bosh knows about the team’s disappointing past. But he assures fans that’s over with.

“It’s a new time of day here,” he asserts. “We have a chance to do something that no other team has done here.”

Miami coach Pat Riley admires the squad he could be facing in the post season.

“[General Manager] Bryan Colangelo is one of the very best in the business. He’s got great experience. Once they got him away from Phoenix I think that sent a message to the players that they were serious about things. He’s made some great moves and [coach] Sam Mitchell has done a great job.”

The Raptors now have 11 games left in their season before the playoffs start in late April. And they’ll be participating, instead of just watching them on TV.

That’s a tip-off to just how much things have really changed.