Toronto and Miami’s Game 7: Three things to know
It’s the Game 7 that many anticipated, but so, so few actually wanted.
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Miami will attempt to “upset” the Toronto Raptors at 3:30 p.m. ET Sunday in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. In a rather ugly series that hasn’t seen either side truly distinguish themselves (and that’s not even getting into comparisons with the still-waiting Cleveland Cavaliers), the Heat pushed its way toward a Game 6 win on Friday evening behind an unexpected starting five and the sterling play of point man Goran Dragic.
Behind Dragic’s 30 points, the Heat saved their season as the scene shifts back to Toronto. As this stands as the only NBA action on Sunday, you’ll probably have to watch.
Might as well come prepared, these teams may have a barnburner hidden up their sleeve. Believe!
Too small to fail
Starting a long-armed, 6-foot-7 athlete at center is hardly a novelty at this point, as pivotmen like Ben Wallace and Wes Unseld dominated opponents at about the same size. Still, Miami coach Erik Spoelstra’s decision to start 20-year-old rookie Justise Winslow at the position in Game 6, while understandable even in defeat, definitely stood out.
Winslow’s jumper, frankly, is just about broken – his corner three-point make in Game 6 was as nearly as surprising as anything in this series, but by keeping him near the rim the Heat were able to compensate for his lack of perimeter touch. The rookie didn’t exactly remind of the similarly-sized Dennis Rodman in Game 6, pulling in just three rebounds (tied for a team low), but the Heat’s litany of long-armed helpers managed to swoop in and keep things frantic for the Toronto offense. Furthermore, Winslow’s ability to screen and slip kept Toronto’s defense on its heels throughout the game.
This has to sustain in Game 7. Guards need to rebound (Dragic and Dwyane Wade combined for 13) and keep their heads on a swivel: Wade and rookie Josh Richardson combined for five blocks in the conquest. Meanwhile, the closest thing that Miami has to a center in its current rotation – versatile forward Josh McRoberts – has to replicate his Game 6 contribution rate.
Not only did McRoberts pull in five rebounds while blocking two shots in the win, he made himself a nuisance offensively in ways that went beyond hitting a teammate with a clever pass. McRoberts, still smarting from a knee injury that sent his career for a spin last season, made himself an offensive threat with an array of spin moves and drives. Scoring 10 points on 5-for-8 shooting may seem modest, but any little bit helps, especially when it gives Toronto big men Bismack Biyombo and Patrick Patterson something else to think about.
Heat center Hassan Whiteside has already announced that he is out for Game 7, still suffering from that sprained MCL, and Winslow has been given the nod as starter yet again. The cerebral rookie has to play freely and without hesitation on both ends if Miami is to take the comeback series win.
Staying home
Biyombo, the highly-regarded Raptors center that has replaced the injured Jonas Valanciunas in the starting lineup, did not have a bad Game 6. He missed three of four shots, but that mark would have been 2-5 overall had The Worst Goaltend Call Ever had not taken place. Toss in 13 rebounds and a pair of blocks and you have a pretty solid night out, to say little of the ways in which he had to chase all manner of Heat cutters around defensively.
There can be little adjustments made along the way to take advantage of the fact that Biyombo will once again be up against a 6-7 rookie at center, but Bismack shouldn’t stray too far from his particular lane, or over-think things.
It would be nice for the odd dash to the front of the rim or offensive rebound opportunity to put Winslow and/or McRoberts in foul trouble, forcing coach Spoelstra to consider even smaller (with Luol Deng’s weary bones in the pivot) or slower (with the banished Amar’e Stoudemire out there) lineups, but the Raptors can’t over-emphasize this mismatch.
Bismack has little to no post game to speak of, and big forward Patrick Patterson (more at home on the perimeter) can’t take Toronto out of its offensive rhythm by going at Deng down low. Luol has thrived at undersized power forward dating back a decade, and while contributions from unheralded players like these two would no doubt be much appreciated in a winning effort, they have to act as gravy, and not the main course.
No, despite the injuries and ineffectiveness, Toronto has to remain Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan’s ballclub until those two can barely make it past half court without passing out due to exhaustion. More typical outputs from Cory Joseph and Terrence Ross (who combined to miss 11 of 17 shots in Game 6) will no doubt make up for what likely will be a little fallback game from Lowry and DeRozan. Toronto can survive even if the All-Star backcourt doesn’t come anywhere near the 59 combined points they offered in Game 6.
Playing from ahead
The stat was tossed around so many times that you’d think it had to do with Hassan Whiteside’s on/off court numbers as a defender: Toronto is no 0-7 all time in playoff games that saw them entering the contest with a lead in the series.
Well, they ain’t leading a damn thing right now. This is a nil-nil series at this point, best-of one, and the Raptors are at home. In most other sporting instances, all the pressure would seemingly be on the squad that is notorious for blowing playoff series’ that they should have won, it’s been 15 years (almost to the day) since Vince Carter graduated college and Toronto’s last chance at the Eastern finals, but that shouldn’t matter.
At some point, the tired Toronto storylines and the hoped-for pairing of LeBron vs. D-Wade has to take a step back. The Raptors can’t play as if this is a fait accompli.
The Raps should have just as many storylines on their side. Cory Joseph has been here before, playing that role before on a championship winner. Terrence Ross entered Friday night hitting half of his shots from the field against Miami while working off the same bench, trying to overcome the ghosts of postseasons past. Kyle Lowry is sick of this [stuff], and he just dropped 36. Bismack Biyombo just does not care, in a good way.
No, Toronto’s postseason history is not sparkling. They struggled to beat a tired and mismatched New York Knick team in 2001 prior to that famed (and incredibly ugly) Conference semis loss. They blew very good chances to establish themselves in first round losses in 2014 and 2015, and barely squeaked past a Pacer squad that was days away from firing its coach.
Miami, not sure if you’ve noticed, isn’t exactly a gangbuster outfit right now. Goran Dragic did well to make Game 6 appealing, and it’s always nice to watch Spoelstra’s called-for movement off the ball, those weird D-Wade three-pointers, and the rare times they get the ball across half court with more than 17 seconds on the shot clock. This is not a team, despite the ascension of Winslow and Josh Richardson and the return to form of Josh McRoberts, that is ready to blow by anyone.
No, the Heat have to be encouraged by listless Martyr Ball from the other side for that to happen.
Toronto might be blown out on Sunday afternoon, but only if they let the imagery chew up the scenery. Raptor fans deserve more than that.
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Kelly Dwyer is an editor for Ball Don’t Lie on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @KDonhoops
