Raps still being shown disrespect.

[pkiskool]

What you mean 'still' shown disrespect?
Just what have we done to be shown respect anyways.
Winning the atlantic with 48 wins?
Come on...

[Rapz]

53% of the teams in the NBA make the playoffs every season.
26.66% of the teams in the NBA make the 2nd round of the playoffs each season.

Since we joined the league in 1995 the Toronto Raptors have a .417 winning percentage (629-881).
13 of the 19 seasons in existence, the Toronto Raptors have failed to make the playoffs, something more than half the league accomplishes on a yearly basis.
The last and only time the Toronto Raptors won a playoff season was round 1 in 2001-2002, 3-2 versus the New York Knicks.
The Toronto Raptors and Milwaukee Bucks are tied with the longest current drought in the NBA without winning a playoff series (13 seasons) (Charlotte, Sacramento and Minnesota are at 10)


The moral of the story is that we've accomplished almost nothing as a franchise in the NBA.We have a history of missing the playoffs (68% of the time) or losing in the 1st round when we get there.We're either an afterthought, or fodder in the minds of most american media outlets. We can sit here and cry "oh woe is us!" or whine that we're being overlooked, but until we start proving something when it matters we have no-one to blame but the team.Last years regular season was a pleasant surprise and even after our second division win in franchise history, and finishing 3rd in the conference, Brooklyn was favored to win. Guess what? They did.

Instead of worrying about what others think of us, why don't we, as fans, focus on the fact that we have done nothing.It's a clean slate, with new ownership, new president, general manager, and so on.Once we start making the playoffs regularly and actually win a round (or two?) we can plan parades, freak out about being slighted by the media, etc.


An interesting note: Even though the Raptors have only played 19 seasons in the NBA, they currently have the 6th longest drought without making the conference finals.

Excellent post!

It is obvious that we are all here since we are Raptors fans, but a cold shower of reality does not hurt.

Yes we all wish Raps will contend one day, but we also have to know that Raps is one of the lowest regarded teams in NBA - not because of location but because of the lack of success in over 12 years.

[theocratic_n'_nature]

Raps want respect? You take it!!

That means we gotta beat every **** team when it matters!

[losetowin]

It's just another step in becoming the Spurs of the East.

[tylrrr]

That's one hell of a leap...

[OvOh]

In Southern Ontario, nothing is given. Everything is earned. You work for what you have.

[UnderdogRaptors]

"point out any skeptic I'll make em a believer"

[Mack11]

"point out any skeptic I'll make em a believer"

[LeetGoose]

The thing that bothers me the most is how so many people don't realize that division leaders are guaranteed at top 4 seed. I can't tell you how many times I've seen people rank Toronto around 5-7. People need to learn the rules of the sport they apparently think they know so much about.

[Bankai]

The thing that bothers me the most is how so many people don't realize that division leaders are guaranteed at top 4 seed. I can't tell you how many times I've seen people rank Toronto around 5-7. People need to learn the rules of the sport they apparently think they know so much about.

People expect the raptors to be the 4th seed by default. But other than Boston, I don't remember the last time the Atlantic tic winner had a worse record than the team below them. The Atlantic winner had legitimately the 3rd or 4th best record in the east. The 5th seed were never better than the Atlantic winner.

Basically I've seen people peg the Raptors as 4th seed by default but have the 6-7th best record in the east.

[Volcano]

some of u guys gotta stop looking for the approval of the US media

[m83588333]

some of u guys gotta stop looking for the approval of the US media

Apparantly the Philippines hold Raptors in high regard. 3 Raptors starters were selected to play in an illegal overseas game.

[will]

Who cares.

[canguy20m]

what did the Raps do to deserve the opposite ?

1) they didn't get past the first round. all they needed in game 7 was someone to step up and take the big shot, noone did. there's only so much you can do with winding the clock down for a close shot. someone should've been able to take a shot further away.

2) growth from T.Ross is critical if the team expects to improve. he didn't end of season and playoffs.

3) Washington did excellent in the playoffs and they got P.Pierce. They deserve to go into the season with more hype than the raptors.

[Slan]

Eff what people think. I think it's a plus if people keep disrespecting the Raptors, it gives them an underdog mentality and it keeps us, the Raptor community, unified. People who talk sh*t about the Raptors, show them a clip of Jurassic Park during the playoffs. What fan base has that much support for their team during the Playoffs?? Especially in the 1st round.

[Dukenukem23]

I actually agree with the media putting Washington ahead of Toronto. They added some really nice pieces this offseason, highly underrated. Hornets also improved considerably, but I have no idea how that team will mesh.

[m83588333]

Eff what people think. I think it's a plus if people keep disrespecting the Raptors, it gives them an underdog mentality and it keeps us, the Raptor community, unified. People who talk sh*t about the Raptors, show them a clip of Jurassic Park during the playoffs. What fan base has that much support for their team during the Playoffs?? Especially in the 1st round.

Its true