Toronto Raptors Tickets

The Toronto Raptors joined the NBA as an expansion team in 1995, joining the Vancouver Grizzlies as the league's first Canadian teams since the Toronto Huskies played in the Basketball Association of America, a predecessor to the NBA, during the 1946-47 season. The Raptors had their best season in 2000-01 when the Canadian team defeated the New York Knicks, 3-2, in the initial round of the playoffs before taking the Philadelphia 76ers to seven games before falling in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Lenny Wilkens served as the head coach that season. The club plays its home games at the Air Canada Centre.

The Air Canada Centre, Home to the Toronto Raptors

The Toronto Raptors play all of their home games at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario. Opened in February of 1999, this arena revitalized the Railway Lands East by providing an entertainment center and tourist attraction. The Air Canada Centre is connected to nearby buildings through the PATH walkway system. It is within close proximity to restaurants, hotels, shopping, transportation, and the theater district. This center is one of two arenas containing Rickards Brewhouse, an in-house brewery. Guests may also enjoy themed concession stands, three restaurants, and Rogers Media Centre, which provides current news and sports information.

Toronto Raptors and the Eastern Conference

In the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference, the Toronto Raptors compete against the Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, New Jersey Nets, and Philadelphia 76ers. Although the team has very little history since joining the league in 1995, the Toronto Raptors won the division title in the 2006 basketball season. Despite winning the first playoff game in five years, the division rival New Jersey Nets knocked the Raptors out of the playoff race.

Toronto Raptors 2012 Team Outlook

Life without Chris Bosh was ugly for the Toronto Raptors a year ago, and the situation has not improved all that much going into the 2011-12 season. The Raptors have become a mini-United Nations on the basketball court with six players on their current roster from outside North America. Toronto is banking on that international talent to lift it out of the Atlantic Division cellar. Things would improve if former No.1 draft pick Andrea Bargnani finally lives up to his full potential. Bargnani made some strides in filling Bosh's shoes a year ago, averaging a career high 21.4 points per game. Staying out of the cellar will be tough for a Raptors team that did not improve substantially in terms of talent over last year's team.