The Eastern Conference semi finals between the Toronto Raptors and Miami Heat was a tight battle to the end.
Raptors assistant coach Rex Kalamian joined Dean Blundell & Co. Monday morning and reflected on the close matchup vs. the Heat and questioned whether the series would have needed seven games if Valanciunas—viewed by many as the Raptors most consistent player during the playoffs until he went down with an ankle injury in Game 3, was still healthy.
“Fortunately for us we were able to beat Miami without JV,” Kalamian said. “Had we had him, I think it probably would would have been a shorter series in my opinion because he’s been dominant for us throughout the playoffs.”
Three of the series seven games needed overtime, and notwithstanding the Raptors landslide 116-89 victory in Sunday’s series clinching Game 7—in which DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry combined to score 63 points, almost every game between the two teams was decided in the finals minutes of regulation.
Battling through injuries and having players step up when needed was something that Kalamian said was integral to the Raptors success during both the regular season and playoffs — especially against Miami.
“You have to understand how difficult it is to be one of the four remaining teams playing,” he said. “I don’t think people really understand the sacrifice, the pain, the work, the discipline, and most of all the luck that it takes to be able to play 100 plus games in seven months and still be one of the four teams.”
Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals is set for 8:30 p.m. ET at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.
The Raptors took the regular-season series with the Cavaliers, 2-1, and won both games at home.
There is still no timetable set for Valanciunas to return, and he has been officially ruled out of Game 1.
