Win or go home. In the game 7 of playoffs; we face our biggest rival… Lebron James. Walking towards the ACC Centre, the fear and trepidation in the home crowd’s faces is hard to miss. The overheard mumbling in crowds shouting “ This year is our year!”. Fans carry signs with a painted message portraying “1-3” foreshadowing our first playoff game 7 victory. Last year’s heartbreak of getting swept by the Cavaliers has become this year’s motivational boost to put the dagger in the hearts of Cavaliers fans.
Anxiously walking down to the stadium, we feel our knees shake as furiously as holding in a number one for the bathroom. We take a quick glance at our seats and head to our second favourite destination in the ACC. Food court. Not only are we praying for a victory over LeBron James; if the Raptors score 100+ points, everyone in the audience gets a free slice of pizza. Representing our proud Canadian spirit, poutine and butter tarts is all we need to symbolize ourselves as “true Canadians” from BOB’s Fries n Gravy’ booth. The silky soft fries, creamy gravy with the fluffy cheese curds, is all we need to prepare ourselves for a historic game.
Game time. As we start walking towards the stadium, we hear the audience roaring like lions “ We The North! We The North!”. The excitement and fear strikes, the moment we’ve all waited for; beating our rival for the first time ever. We feel the energy throughout the whole building, the ground shaking, walls echoing the voices of fans cheering in the hallway “ FINALS BOUND”.
Taking our seats, the crowd electrifies the whole stadium: everyone is on their feet, faces are painted, seats shaking and music echoing in the background as the voice of the crowd overpowers the music. The ACC’s capacity is only 20,000, the view of the crowd says different; shoulder to shoulder not an inch of separation from another person, this is what makes the Toronto Raptors different.
TIp off. The Raptors are off to a slow start trailing at half time, 52-58. The crowd’s energy is still as strong as concrete. As the final minutes approach, the Raptors have picked up their pace using the crowd as a motivational boost. Three after Three, the Raptors are flaming hot, finally hitting all their shots. However, the Cavaliers have stayed in the game with Lebron’s 48 points. 14 seconds left in the fourth, the game is tied at 98-98: LeBron James stepping up to the freethrow line, looking at the ground as he feels the ground shake, deep breaths to silence the rage filled crowd. Hitting the first first throw, and missing the second, DeRozan with the ball, Raptors trailing by 1, 9 seconds remain. DeRozan sprints down the court, receives a screen by Valanciunas, DeRozan with the Step-back shot. Game.
The Raptors have won the game 100-99, advancing to the NBA Finals, as the crowd screams in the background...
By Allah Yar Memon
Comments