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Scottie Pippen and Vince Carter pairing would’ve led Toronto Raptors to 1999 Finals Run

By Alexandro Fidanza

CLEVELAND, OH - JUNE 07: NBA player Vince Carter looks on before Game 3 of the 2017 NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena on June 7, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - JUNE 07: NBA player Vince Carter looks on before Game 3 of the 2017 NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena on June 7, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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David Robinson (L) and Tim Duncan (R) of the San Antonio Spurs set their defense against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas 04 February 2002. AFP PHOTO/Paul BUCK (Photo by PAUL BUCK / AFP) (Photo credit should read PAUL BUCK/AFP via Getty Images)
David Robinson (L) and Tim Duncan (R) of the San Antonio Spurs set their defense against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas 04 February 2002. AFP PHOTO/Paul BUCK (Photo by PAUL BUCK / AFP) (Photo credit should read PAUL BUCK/AFP via Getty Images) /

Toronto Raptors reach Conference final and Championship final

Now here comes the toughest challenge of all, the Indiana Pacers. A team led by Reggie Miller and their coach, the great Larry Bird. It would’ve been considered complete lunacy if you had picked the Raptors over the Pacers. But this was THE Scottie Pippen series. Scottie Pippen absolutely shut down Reggie Miller and looked like 1994 MVP candidate Pippen of old.  He was unstoppable.

The Toronto Raptors ended up winning the series 4-3, in what was an All-Time great series. Not so much for Reggie Miller who failed to have a field goal percentage over 40 percent more than once. This was also a series that caused a lot of uproar in the NBA. No fans or media members wanted to see a brand new team make it to finals, all the worse a Canadian one.

However, this is where everything fell apart for the Toronto Raptors. The Hall of Fame frontcourt of a veteran David Robinson and an up and coming Tim Duncan was too much to handle for the Toronto Raptors. Marcus Camby and Vince Carter were exposed on both ends of the floor, and Damon Stoudamire played like his nickname suggested (Mighty Mouse). Scottie Pippen, besides his best efforts, just couldn’t do it all by himself. The Toronto Raptors were swept 4-0, and this was the end of something special for the organization.

Scottie Pippen did what any other star in Toronto did at that time, sign with any other team (Portland Trailblazers), Damon Stoudamire followed Pippen’s footsteps and signed with the Portland Trailblazers also. This left all but Marcus Camby and Vince Carter as the only shining spots in Toronto. Pippen’s presence actually managed to affect Vince Carter, and he went on to make 2 all-defensive teams with the Raptors before he was ultimately traded to the New Jersey Nets. Meanwhile, Marcus Camby got traded to the Denver Nuggets when Carter got left.

Next. Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet are the NBA's New Emerging Duo. dark

This was the end of an era for the Toronto Raptors and this is what could’ve happened if Scottie Pippen was a Toronto Raptors.

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