By John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Toronto Raptors will play in the NBA Finals for the first time. As a Canadian team, they will become the first representative in the NBA Finals from any other country besides the USA. The Raptors overcame a 2-0 deficit in the Eastern Conference Finals to eliminate the Milwaukee Bucks in six games and move on to face the Golden State Warriors.
The 27th finalist
Nick Nurse’s side won the Atlantic Division finishing the 2018-19 Regular Season with a 58-24 W-L tally. On Saturday night they added their first Eastern Conference title and became the 27th team to clinch an NBA Finals berth. Only six current NBA teams remain without a single NBA Finals appearance.
The Warriors are gearing up for their eleventh NBA Finals, only trail the Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers (31) and the Boston Celtics (21) in the list of teams with the most Finals participations. The Syracuse Nationals/Philadelphia 76ers (9) and the New York Knicks (8) round up the Top 5.
Missing out
The only active organizations without any NBA Finals experience are the Los Angeles Clippers, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Charlotte Hornets, Memphis Grizzlies and New Orleans Pelicans. Every other side and three folded teams have now made it at least once.
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