The Toronto Raptors have been one of the best teams in the NBA over the past seven seasons. During this time, they have a Win/Loss record of 374-190 (66.3%) which ranks second in the NBA behind only the Golden State Warriors. Additionally, they have seven consecutive playoff berths behind just the Houston Rockets, who have eight. The Raptors have won nine playoff series and one Championship in that span. When you have success like this and go through intense battles along the way, rivals will form. It is important to remember that rivalries are created by both players and fans. The hype created from social media plays a major factor in rivalries today. Especially since players today are often very friendly and respectful to each other – for the most part.
More factors come into play other than just games to create rivalries. In a league with as much player movement as the NBA, this needs to be considered. For example, the Raptors only have one player from 2015, two players from 2016, and four players from 2017. It seems crazy, but they only have seven players from 2018-19 just 17 months ago when they won the championship (including Patrick McCaw and Chris Boucher). Player movement has many impacts on rivals. First, when teams change enough the rivalry can disappear. Second, when your players leave to other teams, that team can become a rival. All factors must be weighed when considering a team’s greatest foe.
Honourable Mentions
Cleveland Cavaliers – The Cavs knocked out the Raptors three straight seasons from 2016-2018. Since Lebron left, this lop-sided rivalry has completely flipped. The Raptors are 6-1 versus the Cavs, with five of those wins being double digits. The rivalry is mostly gone, but Raptors fans still enjoy the Cavs misery.
San Antonio Spurs – Now that Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green are gone, this temporary rivalry has diminished. We know that Demar Derozen has these games circled on his calendar though. Other than that trade, this really isn’t a rivalry at all.
Washington Wizards – In 2015, the Raptors were swept by the Wizards in embarrassing fashion. Over the course of the next few years they had some great battles – leading up to a revenge series in 2018 that saw the Raptors victorious. Since then, the Wizards have been horrible and the Raptors have won seven meetings in a row.
Miami Heat – The Raptors and Heat had some very good regular season battles last season. They played in the 2016 playoffs, where the Raptors won in seven games. Jimmy Butler, has given the Raptors problems in his career – especially during his time as a Chicago Bull. There isn’t too much of a rivalry here, but just two good teams in the Eastern Conference. The biggest point of contention between these teams for this season is the race for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Brooklyn Nets – There is easily an argument to place the Nets in the top five. This Raptors run started with a dramatic game seven loss to the Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett version of this team. They have been division foes since then, and had another playoff series in September where the Raptors won 4-0. The Nets are a different team now and the rivalry doesn’t exist enough currently with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving to crack the top five.
5. Los Angeles Lakers
Why they are rivals:
The main factor that creates this rivalry for the Raptors is due to the fact that this is Lebron James’s current team. During his second tenure with the Cavs, he tortured the Raptors and their fans. Lebron dominated them, ousting them in three straight years while mocking them in the process. These two teams are in separate conferences, have never met in the playoffs, and have no historical linking. But this is still a Lebron James team.
The Lakers would not consider the Raptors a rival at all. They might have just been an honourable mention last week due to Lebron, but now they poached Marc Gasol and things are more personal from the Raptors point of view. Gasol chose to chase a ring with the Lakers, which will fuel the Raptors players and fans when they play them this season. They also won a championship with Danny Green last year too – another former Raptor.
Who owns the rivalry?
This is a tricky one. All time, the Lakers are 28-19 vs the Raptors. They are the defending champions, and have lured away two well-liked Raptors in consecutive seasons. The titles are a wash given that they both have won in the last two seasons, and they never met each other in the finals. Lebron has dominated the Raptors over his career, but the Raptors have won 11 straight games versus the Lakers franchise. It’s hard to overlook 11 straight wins, but since this rivalry is based more on ‘Lebronto’ and less on the franchises the Lakers have the slight edge.
4. Philadelphia 76ers
Why they are rivals:
Arguably the hardest, most intense, and most up and down battle of the Raptors 2019 championship run was their second round series versus the Sixers. We all know how it ended, and the fact that Kawhi is no longer a part of the Raptors, but many main players are still around. Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid and Tobias Harris are still the Sixers three best players. Pascal Siakam, Kyle Lowry, Fred Vanvleet, and Norman Powell still play for the Raptors.
This rivalry goes beyond just this series. In recent years, including last year, these teams have had some amazing games, and play four times per season as divisional foes. Of course, this matchup has history too with the Vince Carter led 2001 Raptors, who didn’t get the same bounce that the 2019 team got.
Who owns the rivalry?
The Raptors undoubtedly own this rivalry. From 2013-2016, the Raptors beat the Sixers 14 straight times as they went through their rebuild. This was before Embiid and Simmons arrived (for the most part) but even since their arrival it favours the Raptors. Since 2017, the Raptors are 9-3 versus the Sixers in the regular season, and have that Conference Semi-Finals win in 2019. The Sixers are now the home of Danny Green, but considering his path there, he doesn’t help the Sixers gained rivalry points here.
3. Los Angeles Clippers
Why they are rivals:
The rivalry for the Raptors attributed to player movement between the teams, not head-to-head match-ups. Raptor fans remember the 2018-19 season, where Steve Ballmer and Lawrence Frank became season-ticket holders for the Raptors in their pursuit to sign Kawhi. Of course, they eventually got him and went on to beat the Raptors in both revenge meetings last season. Lou Williams, another former Raptor, made comments about the country that doesn’t sit well with fans. They even have another former Raptor on their bench in Patrick Patterson.
Forgiveness was likely this season, as the Raptors took solace watching the Clippers lose in the second round. The wounds of losing Kawhi had slowly healed into positive memories. However, the Clippers managed to poach another Raptor. Serge Ibaka took a discount to join Kawhi and the Clippers in ring-chasing fashion. This one will sting Raptor fans extra, and the players will surely be motivated when these teams meet.
Who owns the rivalry?
Right now, the Raptors own this rivalry. Kawhi and Serge have their rings from 2019. They were able to lure them from the Raptors, but they haven’t won anything yet with that team. The Clippers got the two wins last season, but after trading their entire future for Paul George losing in the second round was an utter failure. This team was extremely cocky and acted like champions. Until they win with these guys the Raptors and their fans have the last laugh.
2. Milwaukee Bucks
Why they are rivals:
These two teams have finished first and second in the Eastern Conference during the regular season in consecutive seasons. They have had plenty of amazing regular season match-ups, but these rivals were formed through playoff battles. In 2017, these teams met up in the first round, where the Bucks challenged the Raptors greatly in a back and forth six game series. More recently, they played in the 2019 Eastern Conference finals where the Raptors came back from 0-2, winning four straight games, and advancing to the NBA Finals.
This was a crucial series for two teams that had their best shot at winning a championship in recent memory. Had the Bucks won that series they likely would have gone on to win the title, and rumours of Giannis leaving would be greatly diminished. Of course, the fact that the Raptors are priming themselves to lure Giannis to Toronto next summer adds even more fuel to a great rivalry.
Who owns the rivalry?
Another rivalry that definitively favours the Raptors. The only advantages that the Bucks have are recent regular season success, and currently having Giannis. The Raptors have eliminated them from the playoffs in two of the past four seasons, and are going after their star player. For the Bucks to take ownership of the rivalry they need to win a title, while going through Toronto, and resign Giannis.
1. Boston Celtics
Why they are rivals:
The Raptors and Celtics have had many battles in the Eastern Conference over the past decade. They have been the holders of the Atlantic Division titles for 13 of the last 14 seasons with seven for the Raptors and six for the Celtics. For long, the cities of Toronto and Boston have awaited a playoff matchup. In the five years before 2020, both teams have been in the playoffs each year and combined for four Eastern Conference Finals appearances. Somehow, they never matched up. During the 2019-20 season they appeared to be on a collision course to meet up in the Conference Semifinals. In mid-march the unthinkable happened.
The NBA shut down for a global pandemic and this matchup of rivals seemed destined to never happen. Of course the series did eventually happen, and it was as amazing as it could have possibly been considering the circumstances. It included blowouts, streaky shooting, elite defence, buzzer beaters, and seven games of feisty basketball. Ultimately the Celtics knocked off the Raptors and went on to the Eastern conference finals where they lost to the Miami Heat.
Who owns the rivalry?
The Toronto Raptors hold the edge in recent success. They have more consecutive playoff berths, more recent division titles, and a more recent championship. However, the Cetlics get the edge for winning this playoff series. Who knows how this would have played out had home-court been a factor, but given that the Celtics won the series they have the edge for now.
