Golden State appears to be on the wrong end of their "Strength in Numbers" catchphrase as they will be far from the fan favorite during this year's NBA Finals.
According to a map created by Betonline, 47 states are pulling for the Toronto Raptors to upset the Warriors. The gambling website constructed the map by monitoring Twitter's geotagging data. They used the Raptor's #WeTheNorth hashtag in comparison to Golden State's #DubNation, as well as other indicating factors to determine which team each state is rooting for.
There could be many reasons why the Raptors are the people's choice. For starters, the team is the ultimate underdog. The Raptors lucked into creating a trade package that allowed them to acquire Kawhi Leonard. And although he was a proven star in San Antonio, since coming to Toronto Leonard has inched towards his final form. Leonard's outstanding performance willed the Raptors through a seven-game series against Philly and past the top-seeded Bucks. They are now competing in the franchise's first ever NBA Finals against a stacked Warriors team. A finals victory over the Warriors would be a storybook ending to this magical run. In fact, even former-Raptor DeMar DeRozan is excited about the possibility of Canada's first NBA title.
"I've been speaking to him the whole way," Toronto's Kyle Lowry said in regards to DeRozan's support. "One thing about him is that he legit cares about me as his best friend. He has texted everyone he has a relationship with and let them know how happy he is for us."
Fans outside the Bay area also likely have Warriors fatigue. As petty as that sounds, Golden State has been to five-straight NBA Finals. Though they lost the 2016 Finals in dramatic fashion, Golden State breezed through last year's series. This combined with their over-the-top roster, has turned them into a dynasty that fans love to loathe. It's no wonder almost all of the United States, Canada, and Drake, will be praying for their downfall.
