Basketball Daily Dose: Dose: Enter the Dragon
Without any basketball on Saturday, there will be plenty to analyze, discuss and conceptualize ahead of a Sunday matinee that many of us felt was coming.
Toronto @ Miami, Game 6: Heat 103, Raptors 91
Series Tied, 3-3.
Studs: Kyle Lowry; Goran Dragic, Dwyane Wade
Duds: DeMarre Carroll; Luol Deng
Injuries: Jonas Valanciunas (DNP, ankle); Hassan Whiteside (DNP, knee), Chris Bosh (DNP, blood clots)
Ladies and Gentlemen: We have a winner-take-all Sunday Game 7.
Playing without Hassan Whiteside—who will not play in the decider—Erik Spoelstra gave small ball a new definition by starting Justise Winslow at center, but the story of this contest was the Heat’s backcourt that absolutely stole the show. Goran Dragic unleashed The Dragon in what was believed to be a land of dinosaurs, finishing with 30 points, seven boards, four assists, two triples and two turnovers on a smooth 12-of-21 shooting in what has to be considered his best performance of the series. Dwyane Wade, who hasn’t received enough credit for what he’s done this year, delivered arguably his most versatile effort vs. Toronto to extend Miami’s season with 22 points, six rebounds, five dimes, two steals, three blocks and a 3-pointer. Wade has now scored at least 20 points in four straight—and in five of six vs. the Raptors—and will need another big effort in a do-or-die scenario in order to face his buddy LeBron. He’ll be an automatic DFS play, and I’d expect him to try and do whatever he can in order to reach the next round. Josh Richardson was solid with nine points, five rebounds and two swats while Joe Johnson had 13 points as part of a boring line; the only Miami players I’d feel comfortable trotting out are the ones that starred in the Game 6 victory.
Luol Deng (two points, eight rebounds, one block) and DeMarre Carroll (five points, six boards, one block) each played through wrist injuries, but both really struggled to get anything going, as has been the theme in this series. I wouldn’t be relying on a Game 7 miracle from either player, and that’s going to be a tougher pill to swallow for the Heat than the Raptors.
Kyle Lowry is officially back on track, but his 36-point effort (three 3PM, 9-of-10 FTs) wasn’t enough for Toronto to steal a clincher on the road. DeMar DeRozan, who added 23 points of his own, seemingly has his thumb issue in at least a manageable state, but it’s still to be determined if that’s going to be good enough to get past a Miami squad with plenty of talent despite being down both Whiteside and Chris Bosh. There wasn’t a whole lot else going on for the Raps, and that’s part of the equation that resulted in the loss. Bismack Biyombo had four points, 13 rebounds and two blocks subbing in for Jonas Valanciunas, and anyone expecting JV to pull a Willis Reed for Game 7 is only fooling himself or herself. Cory Joseph (seven) and Terrence Ross (six) combined for just 13 points on 6-of-17 from the field, something that will have to change if Toronto wants its season to continue.
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