It was hard not to notice the line. Almost four hours before tip-off, Raptors fans were already snaking around the Scotiabank Arena, from the entrance to Jurassic Park in Maple Leaf Square, along the building’s southern edge, up Bay Street, across Front Street, all the way back to University Avenue and beyond. This, even as the humidity began to break and the clouds rolled in; and despite the day’s earlier rain and the thunderstorm warnings issued by Environment Canada.
Toronto would not be denied its day in the sun though. In the hour or so before the official start of Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals, with the Raptors one win away from destiny, the thunderstorm warning was called off, every public space around the arena was filled, and Toronto was ready.