On this day 5 years ago, the greatest championship run started

[OakleyDokely]

Over the next few months, lets relive the run. April 13th 2019 was game 1 vs ORL.

The journey didn't start well. DJ Augustin hit a big 3 to secure game 1 for the Magic. But after that, DJ Augustin must've remembered that he's DJ Augustin.

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[Merit]

I can’t believe it’s been FIVE YEARS already!!

[YogurtProducer]

I remember losing game 1 and thinking "here we go again"

[WaltFrazier]

I can’t believe it’s been FIVE YEARS already!!

The way in which that really hit me was hearing earlier this year that Kawhi is in his 5th year as a Clipper.

[Dread-Eye]

Wow, 5 years already, and Boucher is the last man standing.

[MoneyBall]

One of the most memorable aspects of this run for me is how well every single rotation player contributed to win the Championship.

[WaltFrazier]

Wow, 5 years already, and Boucher is the last man standing.

Barely standing, sadly

[LoveMyRaps]

What a time to be alive.... the euphoria, the joy, the emotions.... still can't put it into words.

One of the happiest and most satisfying moments of my life.

This was just before COVID, the world was a better place.

It's pretty crazy that we got to witness the FIRST championship in franchise history.

Taking that with me to the grave.

[metafisical]

That Philly series was a toss up. Game 7, down to the last shot with seconds left. Had it gone to OT, who knows where it would've ended up. Forever grateful to Kawhi for making that shot. I will still be grateful if he were to bad mouth the city.

[LoveMyRaps]

One of the most memorable aspects of this run for me is how well every single rotation player contributed to win the Championship.

Still don't know what the heck happened to Green but he entered a slump at the worst time imaginable. He couldn't get anything to fall. Especially in that Bucks series.

He did come up HUGE for us in the finals (Game 3 specifically).

[LoveMyRaps]

People love to bring up the Warriors injuries but fail to realize that the Raps were bruised and battered as well.

We were FAR from healthy. Kawhi had his knee probs, Siakam suffered a calf contusion vs. the 76ers, Lowry had a (fractured?) thumb that he had to undergo surgery for immediately after the finals, OG missed the entire post-season, etc.

[Merit]

I can’t believe it’s been FIVE YEARS already!!

The way in which that really hit me was hearing earlier this year that Kawhi is in his 5th year as a Clipper.

Wild! Yeah I am still living off that shine. Best part: my Floridian buddies can’t say crap about chips any more.

[Tom_Foolery]

When the raptors made the trade for Gasol, I knew we could do it. The only team I feared was the Bucks and we pulled off one of the greatest series comebacks.

We broke so many players hearts and spirit that playoffs.

[tecumseh18]

Lowry with ZERO points in that first game. But ... he improved.

Raps had the hardest run of any champion. Orlando were the hottest team in the league going into the playoffs. Sixers after their trades had the best starting 5. Bucks were absolutely dominant in the regular season, with a positive points differential of ~10 per game. Can you even imagine that?

And after the Warriors swept the Blazers in the WCF, people said they might be better without Durant. The offence flowed better (as it did for us the following season after Kawhi left).

And we beat 'em all.

[adubmac]

I remember losing game 1 and thinking "here we go again"

I woke up in a hotel room in Paris, checked the score and thought that this team was going to turn into playoff pumpkins again (especially Lowry and his 0 points) and that is why I will forever be grateful for Kawhi and what he gave us.

[kleatius_01]

People love to bring up the Warriors injuries but fail to realize that the Raps were bruised and battered as well.

We were FAR from healthy. Kawhi had his knee probs, Siakam suffered a calf contusion vs. the 76ers, Lowry had a (fractured?) thumb that he had to undergo surgery for immediately after the finals, OG missed the entire post-season, etc.

Yes!!! I like Bill Simmons pod, but it's so annoying that whenever our chip comes up he brings up Durant / Klay injuries and fans cheering when Durant went down. Meanwhile Kawhi was playing on 1 leg, clearly was hampered vs earlier rounds. I'd take our full healthy team over a lot of recent champions, it was an extremely balanced VET squad with a GREAT #1. We could clamp down with the best of them, Kawhi routinely dominated, and role players took turns stepping up.

I get that the cheering at Durant's injury was a bad look, and will admit that I was screaming in joy in front of my tv at home. However, CONTEXT MATTERS! I had no idea he was seriously injured, just thought he reaggravated his calf. I was out of my mind the entire finals. It had been 25 years of incompetence, from Isiah to Babcock to Vince leaving to Bargnani to Colangelo's collars to Lebronto. The entire playoff run I was half expecting us to flame out, just seen it happen so many times before. Then finally things broke our way, our players delivered, our team won through!

BS that media outlets try to make it about the Warriors injuries and poor fan behavior. GIVE THE TEAM THE RESPECT THEY DESERVE!!!

[GP2]

Be honest. What was your reaction to Lowry's goose egg in Game 1? More than the loss as a whole and Augustin's performance, I want to know how you were feeling about Lowry after that game.

[Mattatron]

Those memories

[kleatius_01]

Be honest. What was your reaction to Lowry's goose egg in Game 1? More than the loss as a whole and Augustin's performance, I want to know how you were feeling about Lowry after that game.

It was a shock for sure lol. I remember some cutting tweets from other players in the league to the affect "here we go again / we're done with this guy". The flip side is that somehow that inauspicious opening game made the eventual chip that much sweeter!

[SFour]

2019 raptors was definitely a special team....that roster was capable of winning multiple championships....a 3-peat was not out of the question if Kawhi re-signed & stayed healthy.