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The Toronto Raptors and the Boston Celtics are two of the most storied franchises in the NBA. The two teams have a long-standing rivalry that dates back decades, and whenever they meet on the court, it’s always a highly anticipated matchup. In this post, we’ll take a closer look at the Toronto vs Boston NBA rivalry and explore the history, the players, and the current state of both teams.
08 APRIL 2023
TIME: 07:30 PM ET
The rivalry between the Toronto Raptors and the Boston Celtics goes back to the early days of the Raptors franchise. The Raptors were founded in 1995, and they immediately faced the Celtics in their inaugural season.
The two teams would go on to play each other several times over the years, with the rivalry intensifying in the early 2000s.
During that time, the Raptors were led by superstar Vince Carter, while the Celtics had their own star in Paul Pierce. The two players went head-to-head in several memorable matchups, including a double-overtime thriller in 2001 that saw Carter score 37 points and Pierce score 42.
In recent years, the rivalry has only grown stronger. In 2018, the two teams faced off in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, with the Celtics ultimately winning the series in five games. The following year, the Raptors got their revenge by defeating the Celtics in seven games in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The Toronto Raptors are led by their star player, Pascal Siakam. Siakam has emerged as one of the best players in the NBA over the past few seasons, and he was a key part of the Raptors’ championship run in 2019. Siakam is an excellent scorer and a tenacious defender, and he’s always a threat to take over a game.
The Boston Celtics, meanwhile, are led by their dynamic duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Tatum and Brown are two of the most promising young players in the NBA, and they’ve already established themselves as stars. Tatum is a versatile scorer who can get buckets from anywhere on the court, while Brown is a lockdown defender who can also score at a high level.
As of the 2021-22 NBA season, both the Toronto Raptors and the Boston Celtics are going through a bit of a rebuilding phase. The Raptors have lost several key players over the past few seasons, including Kawhi Leonard and Kyle Lowry, and they’re currently trying to develop their young talent.
The Celtics, meanwhile, are trying to rebound from a disappointing season in which they finished just 36-36 and missed the playoffs. The team has made some significant changes over the offseason, including hiring a new head coach in Ime Udoka and bringing in several new players.
