Do you think Raptors NBA title is more impressive than Cavs NBA title?

[Duffman100]

Come on OP, let the Raptor fans enjoy these last 3 weeks of being the champs

Yeah pretty much this. I despise the Raps and we are all aware of why they are champs but I'd be annoyed at this point just let them have it.

The Cavs and Mavs titles in my lifetime were easily the most impressive given nobody even gave them a silver of hope to win. At least TOR had hope given what GS was dealing with.

It's such a back-handed comment.

Are they champs because Durant went down? Sure. But are they also champs because they built a deep team so they were capable of load balancing their main guys and having them fresh and ready to go for the playoffs? Yes.

The Raps were deep throughout their entire roster, not top heavy. That allowed them to go 17-5 without Kawhi. That allowed them to lose one of their best wing defenders and still win a title.

There's an outlast component to the NBA season... the Raptors outlasted.

[Drygon]

Everybody talks about a 73-9 team but fail to mention they were about to lose against OKC too. They weren't that good tbh.

The Warriors got bailed out by Klay Thompson having a legendary G6 performance.

Never mind that OKC got destroyed in Game 7.

Come on OP, let the Raptor fans enjoy these last 3 weeks of being the champs

Yeah pretty much this. I despise the Raps and we are all aware of why they are champs but I'd be annoyed at this point just let them have it.

The Cavs and Mavs titles in my lifetime were easily the most impressive given nobody even gave them a silver of hope to win. At least TOR had hope given what GS was dealing with.

Mavericks I agree with, but the Cavaliers chip was still overrated.

The impressive part was coming back from a 3-1 deficit, but the Cavs put themselves in that whole. People never mention how incredibly talented the Cavaliers were, with Lebron in his prime, Kevin Love, Kyrie Irving, Frye, Shumpert, Delly, Thompson, Jefferson etc.

Cavaliers were also the favorite to win the title before the season - everyone forgets this.

https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2016-nba-picks/

1645 1732
CLE Cavaliers East 63-19 +9.3 >99% 77% 28%
1743 1731
GS Warriors West 60-22 +8.1 98% 32% 18%
1564 1690
OKC Thunder West 58-24 +7.0 97% 21% 11%
1667 1685
SA Spurs West 57-25 +6.6 97% 20% 11%

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/13947464/nba-espn-experts-predictions-2015-16-nba-champions

Most experts on ESPN picked the Cavs to win the chip, not the Warriors.

If anything, Raptors deserves credit for never being in that position in the 1st place.

I mean, the 90s Chicago Bulls gets credit for never going to G7 in NBA Finals.

Also, the Cavs were extremely lucky for Warriors having injuries/suspension...

- Curry playing through an MCL-spain for entire series
- Draymond with G5 suspension
- Iggy with back spasm
- Bogut getting ACL-injury & missing G6 & G7

[ShotCreator]

I mean no but it’s not a huge deal. Cavs got lucky in 16 anyway.

Raps are forever champs but GS had the best team.

Rockets were the best in 18. Cavs in 15.

Thunder in 13, etc.

[Johnny Bball]

Come on OP, let the Raptor fans enjoy these last 3 weeks of being the champs

Yeah pretty much this. I despise the Raps and we are all aware of why they are champs but I'd be annoyed at this point just let them have it.

The Cavs and Mavs titles in my lifetime were easily the most impressive given nobody even gave them a silver of hope to win. At least TOR had hope given what GS was dealing with.

Lol. You two think it going to stop after three weeks? Hahahahahaha.

[Danny1616]

Everybody talks about a 73-9 team but fail to mention they were about to lose against OKC too. They weren't that good tbh.

The Warriors got bailed out by Klay Thompson having a legendary G6 performance.

Never mind that OKC got destroyed in Game 7.

Yeah pretty much this. I despise the Raps and we are all aware of why they are champs but I'd be annoyed at this point just let them have it.

The Cavs and Mavs titles in my lifetime were easily the most impressive given nobody even gave them a silver of hope to win. At least TOR had hope given what GS was dealing with.

Mavericks I agree with, but the Cavaliers chip was still overrated.

The impressive part was coming back from a 3-1 deficit, but the Cavs put themselves in that whole. People never mention how incredibly talented the Cavaliers were, with Lebron in his prime, Kevin Love, Kyrie Irving, Frye, Shumpert, Delly, Thompson, Jefferson etc.

Cavaliers were also the favorite to win the title before the season - everyone forgets this.

https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2016-nba-picks/

1645 1732
CLE Cavaliers East 63-19 +9.3 >99% 77% 28%
1743 1731
GS Warriors West 60-22 +8.1 98% 32% 18%
1564 1690
OKC Thunder West 58-24 +7.0 97% 21% 11%
1667 1685
SA Spurs West 57-25 +6.6 97% 20% 11%

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/13947464/nba-espn-experts-predictions-2015-16-nba-champions

Most experts on ESPN picked the Cavs to win the chip, not the Warriors.

If anything, people should credit Raptors for never being in that position in 1st place.

Also, the Cavs were extremely lucky for Warriors having injuries/suspension...

- Curry playing through an MCL-spain for entire series
- Draymond with G5 suspension
- Iggy with back spasm
- Bogut getting ACL-injury & missing G6 & G7

Exactly.

I don't know why fans give so much praise to a team that digs themselves in a hole before getting out of it.

The Spurs 2014 destruction of Miami is far more impressive than the Cavs 2016 "comeback" because the Spurs didn't put themselves in a hole in the first place - they just obliterated the Heat.

[Dino353]

Embiid wasn’t at his best and Toronto beating Milwaukee was a collective team effort, LeBron carried the Cavs more than Kawhi carried the Raptors. LeBron played against the Warriors fully healthy and Steph,Klay, and Draymmond were 3 years younger with fresher legs and a deeper team top to bottom.

The moment Durant came over the Warriors lost a ton of depth, the Raptors probably beat the Warriors even with Durant if Anunoby was available all series, just my 2 cents but LeBron>Kawhi lets move on.

[TerryTate]

Obviously, they have rightfully earned their respective NBA Championship.

However, not every trophy are created equal.

I mean, Raptors has the hardest East playoff-run for decades.

- They eliminated Orlando Magic team with #1 defense in entire NBA post All-Star break. They even has the best record in the East during same period (17-8), behind only the Bucks and equal with the Raptors.

- They eliminated Philadelphia 76ers with 4 All-Star caliber players, lead by perhaps NBA's best center in Joel Embiid.

- They eliminated Milwaukee Bucks, lead by future MVP-winner & runner-up DPOY in Giannis alongside with future COTY-winner in Mike Budenholzer.

- They eliminated the reigning champs Golden State Warriors who have previously reached 5 straight NBA & won 3 titles in the 2010s.

Obviously, people is gonna use "Cavs returned from 1-3 deficit" argument on why their NBA Championship is more valuable. However, it required a Draymond suspension, a Curry MCL injury, Iguodala with back spasm & Bogut getting ACL-injury in order for Cavaliers to win NBA Finals.

Yes, Klay Thompson missed Game 3 and suffered an torn ACL in Game 6 during NBA Finals 2019 but that's it. The KD-less Warriors are still contenders. But let's not ignore that Raptors also has injury issues due to Kawhi playing through a bum knee & Kyle Lowry with a broken thumb.

i dont actually think the raptors title is impressive and frankly have an * next to it

they were kind of gifted a title

Gifted please......

[infinite11285]

Come on OP, let the Raptor fans enjoy these last 3 weeks of being the champs

Yeah pretty much this. I despise the Raps and we are all aware of why they are champs but I'd be annoyed at this point just let them have it.

The Cavs and Mavs titles in my lifetime were easily the most impressive given nobody even gave them a silver of hope to win. At least TOR had hope given what GS was dealing with.

Mavericks I agree with, but the Cavaliers chip was still overrated.

The impressive part was coming back from a 3-1 deficit, but the Cavs put themselves in that whole. People never mention how incredibly talented the Cavaliers were, with Lebron in his prime, Kevin Love, Kyrie Irving, Frye, Shumpert, Delly, Thompson, Jefferson etc.

Cavaliers were also the favorite to win the title before the season - everyone forgets this.

https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2016-nba-picks/

1645 1732
CLE Cavaliers East 63-19 +9.3 >99% 77% 28%
1743 1731
GS Warriors West 60-22 +8.1 98% 32% 18%
1564 1690
OKC Thunder West 58-24 +7.0 97% 21% 11%
1667 1685
SA Spurs West 57-25 +6.6 97% 20% 11%

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/13947464/nba-espn-experts-predictions-2015-16-nba-champions

Most experts on ESPN picked the Cavs to win the chip, not the Warriors.

This is misleading. That prediction was made on Oct 27, 2015, well before the Warriors won 73 games. The Warriors were the prohibited favorite to win the NBA title in 2016. Asserting otherwise ignores context.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/page/GSWCLE-15859161/nba-playoffs-2016-experts-predictions-golden-state-warriors-cleveland-cavaliers-nba-finals

[TerryTate]

IMO, a lot of these media driven narratives that people tend to associate when they think back upon it.
Since it's still fresh.... lets recap some big things that tend to be forgotten.

I will always say that OKC should have got past GSW. Draymond should have been suspended for the nut kick.
It was quite obvious, but the NBA wasn't going to have their golden child 73-9 team get knocked out at the Wconf finals.....
If that were to happen, it should be Lebron to knock them out....
Likewise, there were some monsterously (Please Use More Appropriate Word) calls in the Cavs Raps 2016 series. Being a raps fan, you may remember some of these. Bismack uber clean block on LBJ being called foul or Tristan thompson elbowing Lebron by accident and Raps get called for foul... That series was filled with loopsided Cavs calls. The whole PATH to the 2016 finals was shaped by the NBA.

That's why personally feel the "73-9" was lame duck excuse.... GSW shouldn't have made it there.
Draymond should have been suspended everyone knows it....

Yes, Lebron went into God mode. Kyrie made big shots... no doubt about it. Even Tristan Thompson, probably played the best ball of his career in that series. They deserved the win, personally I still feel like they had help along the way.

I get annoyed when people like Prokohov say the "raps championship was gifted" ...... Raps grinded through 76ers and Bucks, mad respect to those teams, cause it was not easy.

You know what was gifted "73-9" getting to the finals.....
The only reason Draymond got suspended in the finals, because social media was blowing up the kick to the nuts, if they let him get away with it, it would have been a **** storm

[Rockice_24]

Come on OP, let the Raptor fans enjoy these last 3 weeks of being the champs

Yeah pretty much this. I despise the Raps and we are all aware of why they are champs but I'd be annoyed at this point just let them have it.

The Cavs and Mavs titles in my lifetime were easily the most impressive given nobody even gave them a silver of hope to win. At least TOR had hope given what GS was dealing with.

It's such a back-handed comment.

Are they champs because Durant went down? Sure. But are they also champs because they built a deep team so they were capable of load balancing their main guys and having them fresh and ready to go for the playoffs? Yes.

The Raps were deep throughout their entire roster, not top heavy. That allowed them to go 17-5 without Kawhi. That allowed them to lose one of their best wing defenders and still win a title.

There's an outlast component to the NBA season... the Raptors outlasted.

Guess you missed the first part about me despising the Raps. Take the backhanded compliment and move on it's about all I got for them.

[Danny1616]

Yeah pretty much this. I despise the Raps and we are all aware of why they are champs but I'd be annoyed at this point just let them have it.

The Cavs and Mavs titles in my lifetime were easily the most impressive given nobody even gave them a silver of hope to win. At least TOR had hope given what GS was dealing with.

Mavericks I agree with, but the Cavaliers chip was still overrated.

The impressive part was coming back from a 3-1 deficit, but the Cavs put themselves in that whole. People never mention how incredibly talented the Cavaliers were, with Lebron in his prime, Kevin Love, Kyrie Irving, Frye, Shumpert, Delly, Thompson, Jefferson etc.

Cavaliers were also the favorite to win the title before the season - everyone forgets this.

https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2016-nba-picks/

1645 1732
CLE Cavaliers East 63-19 +9.3 >99% 77% 28%
1743 1731
GS Warriors West 60-22 +8.1 98% 32% 18%
1564 1690
OKC Thunder West 58-24 +7.0 97% 21% 11%
1667 1685
SA Spurs West 57-25 +6.6 97% 20% 11%

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/13947464/nba-espn-experts-predictions-2015-16-nba-champions

Most experts on ESPN picked the Cavs to win the chip, not the Warriors.

This is misleading. That prediction was made on Oct 27, 2015, well before the Warriors won 73 games. The Warriors were the prohibited favorite to win the NBA title in 2016. Asserting otherwise ignores context.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/page/GSWCLE-15859161/nba-playoffs-2016-experts-predictions-golden-state-warriors-cleveland-cavaliers-nba-finals

It's not misleading at all.

People act like Cavaliers were the David going against the Goliath Warriors.

Lebron manufactured his own super team while the Warriors were grown organically.

Also the Cavaliers were easily on the same level as the Warriors that year despite the Warriors winning 73 games. Lebron coasted during the season, Kyrie missed 30 games, Shumpert missed 30 games, and Frye was a huge trade at the all-star break to give 3 point shooting. Even though they won 57 games, that was easily a 65 win team when healthy. Also the Warriors were a bit overrated. While they were unbelievable in the season, the Thunder should have beat them in the WCF. They also struggled a bit against Memphis the series before. Still a great team, but when the game slowed down in the playoffs, they struggled.

Cavaliers had a great title run, but it's downright misleading when people consider the greatest run in NBA history...what a joke.

What Dirk did 2011, or what Kawhi did in 2019 is far more impressive in my opinion.

[infinite11285]

Mavericks I agree with, but the Cavaliers chip was still overrated.

The impressive part was coming back from a 3-1 deficit, but the Cavs put themselves in that whole. People never mention how incredibly talented the Cavaliers were, with Lebron in his prime, Kevin Love, Kyrie Irving, Frye, Shumpert, Delly, Thompson, Jefferson etc.

Cavaliers were also the favorite to win the title before the season - everyone forgets this.

https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2016-nba-picks/



https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/13947464/nba-espn-experts-predictions-2015-16-nba-champions

Most experts on ESPN picked the Cavs to win the chip, not the Warriors.

This is misleading. That prediction was made on Oct 27, 2015, well before the Warriors won 73 games. The Warriors were the prohibited favorite to win the NBA title in 2016. Asserting otherwise ignores context.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/page/GSWCLE-15859161/nba-playoffs-2016-experts-predictions-golden-state-warriors-cleveland-cavaliers-nba-finals

It's not misleading at all.

People act like Cavaliers were the David going against the Goliath Warriors.

The Warriors were heralded as the greatest team ever in June and were the overwhelming favorites to hoist the trophy once the Finals' seeding was determined.

Also the Cavaliers were easily on the same level as the Warriors that year despite the Warriors winning 73 games.

Define, "same level" and back it up with some data. Otherwise, that statement sounds like your subjective opinion.

Cavaliers had a great title run, but it's downright misleading when people consider the greatest run in NBA history...what a joke.

I don't share the opinion it's the greatest championship run ever. I thought the topic we were discussing involved which championship run was more impressive between the Raptors and the Cavs.

[Duffman100]

Yeah pretty much this. I despise the Raps and we are all aware of why they are champs but I'd be annoyed at this point just let them have it.

The Cavs and Mavs titles in my lifetime were easily the most impressive given nobody even gave them a silver of hope to win. At least TOR had hope given what GS was dealing with.

It's such a back-handed comment.

Are they champs because Durant went down? Sure. But are they also champs because they built a deep team so they were capable of load balancing their main guys and having them fresh and ready to go for the playoffs? Yes.

The Raps were deep throughout their entire roster, not top heavy. That allowed them to go 17-5 without Kawhi. That allowed them to lose one of their best wing defenders and still win a title.

There's an outlast component to the NBA season... the Raptors outlasted.

Guess you missed the first part about me despising the Raps. Take the backhanded compliment and move on it's about all I got for them.

I find it weird you 'despise' a team. There isn't a single team I despise in the league, I'm an NBA fan. All teams have their issues, all teams have their potential.

So very strange.

[Rockice_24]

It's such a back-handed comment.

Are they champs because Durant went down? Sure. But are they also champs because they built a deep team so they were capable of load balancing their main guys and having them fresh and ready to go for the playoffs? Yes.

The Raps were deep throughout their entire roster, not top heavy. That allowed them to go 17-5 without Kawhi. That allowed them to lose one of their best wing defenders and still win a title.

There's an outlast component to the NBA season... the Raptors outlasted.

Guess you missed the first part about me despising the Raps. Take the backhanded compliment and move on it's about all I got for them.

I find it weird you 'despise' a team. There isn't a single team I despise in the league, I'm an NBA fan. All teams have their issues, all teams have their potential.

So very strange.

You're GM came out and said "F" Brooklyn so forgive me if I don't root for TOR and hope they lose. I find it even more strange that you like all the teams. I most certainly don't root for teams like NYK, BOS, LAL etc. It's about the most natural thing in sports to despise your teams rivals. It's healthy lol.

[Danny1616]

This is misleading. That prediction was made on Oct 27, 2015, well before the Warriors won 73 games. The Warriors were the prohibited favorite to win the NBA title in 2016. Asserting otherwise ignores context.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/page/GSWCLE-15859161/nba-playoffs-2016-experts-predictions-golden-state-warriors-cleveland-cavaliers-nba-finals

It's not misleading at all.

People act like Cavaliers were the David going against the Goliath Warriors.

The Warriors were heralded as the greatest team ever in June and were the overwhelming favorites to hoist the trophy once the Finals' seeding was determined.

Also the Cavaliers were easily on the same level as the Warriors that year despite the Warriors winning 73 games.

Define, "same level" and back it up with some data. Otherwise, that statement sounds like your subjective opinion.

Cavaliers had a great title run, but it's downright misleading when people consider the greatest run in NBA history...what a joke.

I don't share the opinion it's the greatest championship run ever. I thought the topic we were discussing involved which championship run was more impressive between the Raptors and the Cavs.

I just told you.

Kyrie missed 30 games and they made a big trade for Frye who provided solid 3 point shooting. If Kyrie played a full-season that's easily a 65 win team.

I don't consider that run better then the Raptors.

The Cavaliers beat the 44 win Pistons in the 1st round, the 48 win Atlanta Hawks in the 2nd round and the Raptors led by Lowry/Derozan in the conference finals. That isn't exactly a difficult road to the finals.

Contrast that with the Raptors that had to go through the Magic (easy), the 51 win Sixers (who only got Butler and Harris later in the year, and Embiid missed 20 games), and the 60 win Bucks.

In my opinion the Raptors had to go through 3 of the top 4 teams in the league last year in the Sixers, Bucks and Warriors.

In 2016, 4 of the top 5 teams in the league were in the West - the Warriors, the Thunder, the Spurs and the Clippers.

[infinite11285]

It's not misleading at all.

People act like Cavaliers were the David going against the Goliath Warriors.

The Warriors were heralded as the greatest team ever in June and were the overwhelming favorites to hoist the trophy once the Finals' seeding was determined.

Also the Cavaliers were easily on the same level as the Warriors that year despite the Warriors winning 73 games.

Define, "same level" and back it up with some data. Otherwise, that statement sounds like your subjective opinion.

Cavaliers had a great title run, but it's downright misleading when people consider the greatest run in NBA history...what a joke.

I don't share the opinion it's the greatest championship run ever. I thought the topic we were discussing involved which championship run was more impressive between the Raptors and the Cavs.

I just told you.

Kyrie missed 30 games and they made a big trade for Frye who provided solid 3 point shooting. If Kyrie played a full-season that's easily a 65 win team.

100% conjecture on your part--which is fine.

The Cavaliers beat the 44 win Pistons in the 1st round, the 48 win Atlanta Hawks in the 2nd round and the Raptors led by Lowry/Derozan in the conference finals. That isn't exactly a difficult road to the finals.

Contrast that with the Raptors that had to go through the Magic (easy), the 51 win Sixers (who only got Butler and Harris later in the year, and Embiid missed 20 games), and the 60 win Bucks.

In my opinion the Raptors had to go through 3 of the top 4 teams in the league last year in the Sixers, Bucks and Warriors.

In 2016, 4 of the top 5 teams in the league were in the West - the Warriors, the Thunder, the Spurs and the Clippers.

I agree that the Raptors experienced a tougher path through the East; however, the level of competition the Raptors faced in the Finals is incomparable to what the Cavs faced. As you argued the Raptors run was more impressive due to the increased difficulty of getting out of the East, others can argue the Cavs run is more impressive because they faced a juggernaut that disposed of the top teams in the West, and won 3 of the first 4 games of the series.

Apples to oranges.

[_Game7_]

Both where very impressive, Raptors title run propelled Kawhi among the all time greats. But Cav's run was historic, big difference.

[NBAFan93]

Not even close. That Cavs title was the best ever.

[I_Like_Dirt]

They were both awesome! Anyone trying to discredit either of them or suggesting one of them was somehow arbitrarily more valid than the other can pound sand. Champs are champs are champs.

[Danny1616]

The Warriors were heralded as the greatest team ever in June and were the overwhelming favorites to hoist the trophy once the Finals' seeding was determined.


Define, "same level" and back it up with some data. Otherwise, that statement sounds like your subjective opinion.

I don't share the opinion it's the greatest championship run ever. I thought the topic we were discussing involved which championship run was more impressive between the Raptors and the Cavs.

I just told you.

Kyrie missed 30 games and they made a big trade for Frye who provided solid 3 point shooting. If Kyrie played a full-season that's easily a 65 win team.

100% conjecture on your part--which is fine.

The Cavaliers beat the 44 win Pistons in the 1st round, the 48 win Atlanta Hawks in the 2nd round and the Raptors led by Lowry/Derozan in the conference finals. That isn't exactly a difficult road to the finals.

Contrast that with the Raptors that had to go through the Magic (easy), the 51 win Sixers (who only got Butler and Harris later in the year, and Embiid missed 20 games), and the 60 win Bucks.

In my opinion the Raptors had to go through 3 of the top 4 teams in the league last year in the Sixers, Bucks and Warriors.

In 2016, 4 of the top 5 teams in the league were in the West - the Warriors, the Thunder, the Spurs and the Clippers.

I agree that the Raptors experienced a tougher path through the East; however, the level of competition the Raptors faced in the Finals is incomparable to what the Cavs faced. As you argued the Raptors run was more impressive due to the increased difficulty of getting out of the East, others can argue the Cavs run is more impressive because they faced a juggernaut that disposed of the top teams in the West, and won 3 of the first 4 games of the series.

Apples to oranges.

But I wouldn't call the Warriors a juggernaut in the playoffs.

Curry clearly was still bothered by his MCL sprain before the playoffs, and the Thunder should have beat the Warriors in WCF.

That Warriors team the Raptors faced was still an incredible team. Klay missed 1.5 games, but the Raptors were still better for the most part even with Klay in the line-up. Also Cousins had just returned from injury. That same Warriors team beat the Rockets and swept Portland without KD. It wasn't like the Raptors were facing a considerably weaker opponent.

It's not the Raptors fault Green forgot how to shoot this year and was a liability offensively.