With seven straight playoff Game 1 losses, and an NBA-record last five at home, nobody should be surprised the Toronto Raptors are down one in their second-round series with the Miami Heat.
If Game 1 is any indication, we’re in for a competitive series between the Raptors and Heat.
The second and third seeds in the East are evenly matched. Both teams scored 44 points in the paint on Tuesday and both went 40-for-89 from the field in that contest. The main difference between the two was that the Heat were the more poised team in overtime, a big reason why they’re 9-1 in playoff overtime games as a franchise. Miami has won at least one road game in 18 straight playoff series.
Despite the fact LeBron James has already assumed the Heat will advance to the next round, there’s still lots of basketball to be played. However, if Toronto goes down 0-2 at home King James might as well be Nostradamus.
Here are three keys to the Raptors’ success in Game 2:
Three and D
Although both teams hit the same amount of field goals in Game 1, the difference in the contest was the volume and efficiency of three point shots. Miami shot 73 per cent from deep on Tuesday, while Toronto connected on only 24 per cent of its three-point tries.
The Raptors pride themselves on making triples and being able to effectively guard against them, and they did neither in Game 1.
Get Lowry on track
Kyle Lowry is having the worst playoff shooting performance for any player with over 100 attempts in the last 50 years, hitting just 31 per cent of his shots from the field.
Worst Field Goal Percentage in Single Post-season in 50 years | ||
---|---|---|
2016 | Kyle Lowry | 31% |
2006 | Larry Hughes | 32% |
2005 | Lindsey Hunter | 32% |
2002 | Jerry Stackhouse | 32% |
From deep he’s been even worse as his 16 per cent from three makes it obvious. That’s dumbfounding for a player who was in the three-point competition as part of the all-star festivities in February.
During the regular season his true shooting percentage was 57.8 per cent. Stephen Curry was the only point guard who shot more efficiently. Much was made about the fact Lowry got shots up in the ACC lower bowl while his teammates were fulfilling their media requirements. Whether it was getting extra shots up or taking less tough shots in the game, Toronto has to get Lowry shooting more efficiently to stay in this series.
Knee watch
How long and effective will Dwyane Wade and Hassan Whiteside be able to play with just a day’s rest? Both players hurt their knees in Game 1.
Whiteside had to go to the locker room to get his knee strain treated before returning and Wade badly limped off the floor post-game. Aside from Goran Dragic, Wade and Whiteside have been the Heat’s most pivotal players in the absence of Chris Bosh. Keeping them healthy and on the floor in pivotal moments is key.
Raptors Players to watch: Kyle Lowry
As bad as Lowry has been shooting he still was a plus-7 in Game 1, a contest Toronto lost by six.
The Raptors have been outscored by 24.2 points per 100 possessions in the 76 playoff minutes Kyle Lowry has sat. With Lowry on the floor Toronto has scored 101.5 points per 100 possessions and allowed 100.5. With Lowry out of the game Toronto has only scored 84.8 points per 100 possessions and given up 109 points.
Cory Joseph is shooting 58 per cent in the playoffs, so you could make the argument he should be playing more but not at the expense of Lowry. The Raptors starting point guard has played a strong floor game despite his broken shot and as I learned from his college coach Jay Wright, does so many little things to help his team win.
Heat Player to watch: Dwayne Wade
There is a reason why Wade has 100 post-season wins. He certainly isn’t the player he once was but he controlled the tempo in Game 1. Every time Toronto made a run Wade come up with a big play on both ends on Tuesday.
Wade finished game one with 24 points, six rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks. Watching him up close I got an appreciation that yes he’s lost a step but his change of pace still allows him to get to his spots on the court.
The 34-year-old looked exhausted after the five-minute overtime so how he performs having to chase around DeMar DeRozan for the balance of the series is worth watching.