This has been a season of firsts for the Toronto Raptors. All year they’ve set franchise-best marks in a number of categories. They have a chance to do it again on Friday night in Indiana by winning their first seven-game series in franchise history.
Their second series win in franchise history would alleviate some pressure off an organization that has failed to get out of the first round the last two seasons. However, a loss in Indiana in Game 6 and all the good vibes from Game 5’s fourth quarter comeback wash away and the pressure and skepticism squarely returns back to the Raptors’ shoulders.
Raptors Key to the Game – No. 1: Turnovers Turn the Tide
Indiana entered the fourth quarter in Game 5 with a 90-77 lead and the key to the Raptors’ furious comeback was forcing Pacers turnovers. Indiana had more turnovers than field goals in the fourth quarter. Toronto had 10 points off of turnovers in the fourth. Toronto’s ability to get stops has to be the engine that propels an offence that has struggled throughout the series.
Game 5 Fourth Quarter Comeback by the Numbers
| Indiana | Toronto | |
|---|---|---|
| Points | 9 | 25 |
| Field Goals | 4-for-15 | 8-for-19 |
| 3 Pt Field Goals | 1-for-6 | 3-for-10 |
| Turnovers | 6 | 0 |
Raptors Key to the Game – No. 2: Defend Small
Going small got Toronto back in the game in the fourth. Head coach Dwane Casey has had the better adjustments in the series and the most recent was playing Bismack Biyombo surrounded by four guards. First, it was the deadly Lowry and bench unit having the point guard flanked by Cory Joseph, Norman Powell and Terrence Ross. To close the game, DeMar DeRozan entered the game for Ross. The on-ball defence on the perimeter was intensified, which gave Toronto a massive advantage on the defensive end. Halfway through the fourth the Pacers had scored just two points. Toronto was able to hold on and get stops late.
Game 5 Fourth Quarter Defence
| Raptors | ||
|---|---|---|
| Point differential | 16 | |
| Points against | 9 | |
| Opposition field goal percentage | 26.7 | |
| Opposition 3-point field goals | 1-for-6 |
Pacers Key to the Game: Live by the Three, Die by the Three
Indiana has to take and make three pointers at a high rate to stay in the game. Their halfcourt offence has been a struggle all year so they need the extra point per basket to stay close to efficient offensively. Generally, they’ve controlled the tempo of the series when their threes have been falling, most of which have come off of dribble penetration in the halfcourt or by trailers in their secondary offence off of fast breaks. The same was true in Game 5, when they hit 11 threes in the first half and shot 7-of-10 from three in the first quarter and then just hit two in the second half allowing Toronto back in the game.
Pacers Three Pointers in Game Five
| Quarter | Shots/Attempts |
|---|---|
| First | 7-of-10 |
| Second | 4-of-7 |
| Third | 1-of-6 |
| Fourth | 1-of-6 |
Raptors Player to Watch: Kyle Lowry
DeMar DeRozan busted out of his series-long offensive slump in Game 5 with a playoff career-high 34 points. It’s time for Lowry to match his all-star backcourt partner and do the same. Lowry is having an impact on the series, however, playing a strong floor game. Lowry had 13 turnovers in the first four games of the series but had none in Game 6. Protecting the ball for Lowry is as important as how he’s shooting it.
Pacers Player to Watch: Paul George
Paul George is the Pacers player to watch, but perhaps more importantly, head coach Frank Vogel’s deployment of George is worth noting. Toronto cut the Pacers’ Game 5 lead to nine going into the half when he sat at the end of the second quarter. The Raptors cut it to seven when he sat with George Hill at the beginning of the fourth. George had just two points and was 0-2 from three-point range in the fourth quarter after his extended rest.
Key Stat
The Pacers are just 9-10 in games decided by three points or less.
