Raptors down 76ers to win first ever division title

[Teddy Roosevelt]

April 6, 2007
CBS SportsLine.com wire reports

PHILADELPHIA -- The Toronto Raptors are taking the Atlantic Division title north of the border.

Chris Bosh had 23 points and 13 rebounds for his seventh straight double-double to help Toronto win its first division title with a 94-85 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night.

"It's a start," coach Sam Mitchell said. "You come to all of these arenas and they have division championship banners up in the rafters. If you are trying to start a culture of winning, these guys need to start seeing the fruits of their labor and those things are important."

The Raptors, who already clinched their first postseason berth since 2002, won the Atlantic when Chicago beat New Jersey 105-74 later Friday night. It marked the first time a Canadian-based team won a division title.

Toronto also kept its slim lead over Miami for third place in the Eastern Conference, which would set the Raptors up nicely for a first-round matchup against injury-ravaged Washington.

The Raptors began the season with 2-8 start that gave little hint the playoffs were a possibility. Toronto's 43 wins this season are a 16-win improvement for last season's total of 27, the biggest turnaround in the NBA this season.

"I think it means a lot, especially with the quick turnaround that we've had this year," Bosh said. "It's a great thing. This team overcame a lot of adversity early. Now we have to look ahead to clinching that third spot."

http://www.sportsline.com/nba/gamecenter/recap/NBA_20070406_TOR@PHI

[Black_Smoke]

 

[PLANT]

This has been the most amazing season for us Raptors fans.  Its been great to see the team pull together and play so well.  Biggest turnaround in the NBA this season, as I predicted before it started, altho most experts didnt even pick them to make the playoffs.  NIK before the season started you said there was no way Toronto would finish better than the lakers and you didnt think they would make the playoffs.  What do you think of them now?  Brian Colangelo is the clear cut for GM of the year, and I think Sam MItchell should be named coach of the year aswell.

[Lunatic]

 

[jeromechickenbone]

The thread title needs a (no homo).  Good for the Raptors.  Joey Graham is my nigga.

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

This has been the most amazing season for us Raptors fans.  Its been great to see the team pull together and play so well.  Biggest turnaround in the NBA this season, as I predicted before it started, altho most experts didnt even pick them to make the playoffs.  NIK before the season started you said there was no way Toronto would finish better than the lakers and you didnt think they would make the playoffs.  What do you think of them now?  Brian Colangelo is the clear cut for GM of the year, and I think Sam MItchell should be named coach of the year aswell.

I think they did an excellent job...Major props. I told ya'll Anthony Parker would be something.

[Bch]

anthony parker lol

anthony peeler lol

toronto's gonna get bounced out 1st 2nd round of the playoffs im not worried about them in the East

although i think chris bosh is sick

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

Raptors >>> Heat

[Jakubs]

Raptors >>> Heat

Yes sir they are. I want the Bulls to face the Heat so we can eliminate them like they did to us last year. The Heat are the worst champions ever, bar none. I would like nothing more than to see them get swept in the first round. If it's the Raptors that do it, more power to them.

[AlerG]

Being a Diehard Maple Leafs fan, and a big Raptors fan. It's good to see one of the teams making up the slack for the other. Also, the Blue Jays look like contenders this year too 

chill

[PLANT]

Being a Diehard Maple Leafs fan, and a big Raptors fan. It's good to see one of the teams making up the slack for the other. Also, the Blue Jays look like contenders this year too 

chill

yeah go jays!  hopefully the big hurt goes yard, vernon has a great year and redd johnson gets mad bitches

[wcsoldier]

Major props to them... plus the 2nd round in the playoffs is probably on lock regarding the current standing

[Westcoastin']

props to the raptors, theyve shown a canadian market can handle the nba.......i used to hit up grizzlies games all the time, its a shame they didnt last (i blame poor drafting, not the market)

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

props to the raptors, theyve shown a canadian market can handle the nba.......i used to hit up grizzlies games all the time, its a shame they didnt last (i blame poor drafting, not the market)

LOL...You think if Vancouver drafted Kobe instead of Shareef and kept Mike Bibby they'd still be in business?

[Westcoastin']

props to the raptors, theyve shown a canadian market can handle the nba.......i used to hit up grizzlies games all the time, its a shame they didnt last (i blame poor drafting, not the market)

LOL...You think if Vancouver drafted Kobe instead of Shareef and kept Mike Bibby they'd still be in business?

well, who knows what wouldv happend its all "what ifs".  Shareef and Bibby were actually more than decent, i was talking more about Big Country Bryant Reeves and his retarded 60 million dollar contract. And before they drafted Steve Francis...he'd already said specifically that he wouldnt play in Canada....they couldv drafted someone who wouldv played for them,   there was a couple other moves they had the opportunity to make and didnt...i remember when they moved the Vancouver Sun did an article on the roster the Grizzlies couldv had, it was basically an allstar team, I dont remember who was on it now cuz its been so long,  but anyways...they might not have had to sell the team to the guy who was hellbent on moving it to Memphis if theyd had a better roster and made the playoffs a year or 2

thats the last im gonna say on it, i really dont give a fuck about basketballl anymore, i was just sayin that i enjoyed the time the grizz were in vancity