2006–07 Toronto Raptors season
The Toronto Raptors 2006–07 season was the twelfth National Basketball Association (NBA) season for the Toronto Raptors basketball franchise. Following a poor 2005–06 season, General Manager Bryan Colangelo greatly revamped the team roster during the pre-season but continued to build the team around All-Star Chris Bosh. Despite a sluggish start, the 2006–07 season transformed into a watershed year for Toronto. The Raptors captured their first division title, finished third in the Eastern Conference, made the playoffs for the first time in five years, equalled their best ever regular season record (47–35) of the 2000–01 team, and secured home court advantage for the first time in franchise history. However, the Raptors met the New Jersey Nets in the first round of the playoffs and were defeated four games to two. At the end of the regular season, head coach Sam Mitchell and Colangelo were named NBA Coach of the Year and NBA Executive of the Year respectively. The Raptors also changed their colour scheme which is still in use today.
The Raptors used an alternate logo for the 2006–07 NBA season, seen here in the centre of the court.
Toronto's 2006–07 roster featured many players who have played in Europe.
The Raptors signed two-time Euroleague MVP Anthony Parker, who became one of the NBA's top three-point shooters and perimeter defenders.
The 2006–07 season saw a reduction in minutes for Raptors veteran Morris Peterson (right), but also an introduction of Spanish veteran Jorge Garbajosa (left) to the starting lineup.
The Toronto Raptors are a Canadian professional basketball team based in Toronto. The Raptors compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. The team plays its home games at Scotiabank Arena, which it shares with the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL). The team was founded in 1995 as part of the NBA's expansion into Canada, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies. Since the 2001–02 season, the Raptors have been the only Canadian-based team in the league, as the Grizzlies relocated from Vancouver to Memphis, Tennessee.
SkyDome, known as Rogers Centre since 2005, was the original venue for Raptors home games from 1995 to 1999
The Raptors moved to Scotiabank Arena (then known as Air Canada Centre) in 1999
Vince Carter, drafted fifth in the 1998 NBA draft, played his first six seasons in the NBA with the Raptors
A game between the Raptors and the Portland Trail Blazers during the 2004–05 season. The Raptors were moved to the NBA's Atlantic Division prior to the start of that season.
