Raptors regain home court with win
After blowing Game 1 of their NBA Eastern Conference quarterfinal series at home in the Air Canada Centre against the Indiana Pacers, the Toronto Raptors have responded with vengeance.
Toronto was able to level the series in Game 2 and then stormed to a decisive Game 3 victory on Thursday night at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, taking down the Pacers in a 101-85 contest. The Raptors were led to victory by star guards DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry, who combined to shoot 40 percent from the field (15-of-40) with 42 points and 11 assists between them.
This is not just another win for Toronto. In fact, it gets back the home court advantage that was relinquished in the opener, putting the Raptors in good shape regardless of what happens in the upcoming match. Toronto has to be incredibly relieved, knowing that a loss in Game 3 would have meant a virtual do-or-die scenario in Game 4.
Clearly, Toronto’s strategy was to limit Paul George and completely shut down the players around him. While George is one of the more complete basketball players in the world, his supporting cast is nothing special to say the least. George had a good game on Thursday, scoring 25 points with 10 rebounds and six assists, aided by 12-for-12 shooting from the free throw line. Yet the rest of the Pacers could get nothing going, with Myles Turner and his 17 points being the lone exception.
George knows the effort won’t be enough to advance past the first round, although he likely doesn’t expect much more form a very limited group around him. George had the following to say, per the Associated Press.
“Too many times we’re playing passive, not being aggressive and not being assertive. That’s playing right into their hands,” George said. “Our best offense is when we’re in attack mode, and I don’t think we’re doing that enough.”
For the Raptors, anything less than reaching the conference finals would be an absolute failure. This is a squad coming off a fantastic regular season that saw an Atlantic Division for the third straight season. Last year, the campaign ended miserably with a listless sweep at the hands of the Washington Wizards. The year before, Toronto fell in seven heart-wrenching games to the Brooklyn Nets.
For head coach Dwane Casey and his charges, the time is now. Outside of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Toronto is clearly the best team in the East. Should the Raptors get through this round, they would face either the Miami Heat or Charlotte Hornets. While Miami would be a difficult opponent, the Raptors could – and should – emerge victorious.
Toronto has a chance to put this series on ice come Game 4. If this Raptors team is ready to take the next step, it will.
