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LOOK AHEAD
This time the Raptors were able to score in overtime and therefore tied the series at a game each heading to Miami for Game 3. But Toronto’s Kyle Lowry is struggling. He is struggling with his shot and therefore struggling to have the kind of impact on this second-round series with Miami that he has to have. Much like he failed to have an impact in the first-round win over Indiana.
It’s not the he isn’t having any impact at all. He’s distributing and putting his teammates in position to succeed. He’s defending, probably better this series than last, but he’s chipping in at that end too. He’s trying to lead by example, refusing to succumb to the frustration that builds with every missed shot. Lowry is searching and, true to his strong personality, he likely won’t give up that search until the season ends or the slump does. At this point, digging himself out is the only option.
INJURIES
Toronto’s DeMar DeRozan injured his right thumb late in Game 1 and the injury was kept on the down low with not many people finding out about the complications until prior to Game 2. The Raptors guard downplayed the injury and didn’t use it an excuse for his 9 of 22 shooting from the field in Thursday’s win.
Goran Dragic was left bloodied after being hit by DeRozan’s elbow in the second quarter. Dragic was called for a blocking foul on the play. He received three stitches on the inside of his lip and five on the outside during halftime, returning to start the second half.
KEY MATCHUP
This side of the Eastern Conference bracket is mired in a fighting contest of a series where both teams have combined for a whopping 62 turnovers in just two games. Lowry’s prayer in Game has been the best moment of the series and the rest has been missed DeRozan jumpers, crippling offensive lapses and Dragic biting through his lip. Lowry is clearly suffering from his lingering elbow injury and he’s on a historically-bad playoff shooting streak.
It’s evident the Raptors can’t wait for their all-star guard to start producing because it looks like that ain’t happening. Yet, Toronto is headed to South Beach tied 1-1 thanks in part to Jonas Valanciunas. The big Lithuanian had 11 points and seven boards in the fourth quarter and overtime on Thursday, but more importantly, he outplayed Hassan Whiteside. Valanciunas has a decent post up game, but his role in the series is to fight in the post and tie up Whiteside. He’ll have to keep scrapping because nobody looks close to offensive competence at the moment.
QUICK PICK
It almost seems as if neither team wants to win this series. And in the end it probably doesn’t matter anyway with the Cavaliers most likely the next opponent. Toronto’s backcourt of Lowry and DeRozan continues to struggle shooting the basketball, but they were able to escape with a victory on Thursday to even the series. We keep waiting for those two to get it together and it just hasn’t happened yet, and maybe it won’t.
If that’s the case, the Heat have a wonderful opportunity at home to take control of the series. Both teams had their issues in Game 2, but Miami’s 11 first quarter turnovers and 21 total for the game, can be corrected. We’re just not sure if the Raptors can overcome their shooting woes.
NBA Odds: Miami 101, Toronto 96
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