Raptors lose in dramatic fashion in what was a tremendous game all around
What a recreation.
No, it didn’t prove just like the gamers, coaches or followers wished however Sport 3 of Raptors-Sixers was merely pleasant drama nearly from begin to end, working the gamut of feelings and value on a regular basis anybody invested in it.
A season-killer for the locals, most definitely, but when one of many objectives was to get younger gamers first-hand expertise within the stress of the post-season they lastly received it after two blah video games in Philadelphia.
And you recognize what? If a 7-foot centre goes to take an inbounds go with lower than a second left on the shot clock, flip and make a three-pointer in a hostile surroundings with lower than two seconds left in time beyond regulation, nicely, generally you’ve simply received to tip your hat to him.
Helluva shot, helluva play, one of many nice screens ever set in that area by Tobias Harris to get Joel Embiid free.
Only a clutch shot.
I don’t suppose the Raptors have a single factor to be sorry about – I do know the knives are out for Pascal Siakam after a scoreless second half and time beyond regulation however I believe he did his job whereas being guarded very nicely – as a result of they performed very nicely and the opposite guys simply made yet another play than they did.
Now with two days between video games we’ll have loads of time to consider what’s forward.
For now, and since it’s what we do, a fast have a look at some leftover issues.
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THREE POINTERS
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Usual, usual
Defence has been the difficulty for all the sequence for the Raptors. They only haven’t guarded nicely sufficient for any size of time, which is a bit shocking as a result of they’ve been a satisfactory defensive staff a lot of the season.
However watching them wrestle to get something good on offence for in regards to the final seven minutes or so was troubling.
As Fred VanVleet identified:
“We made some performs offensively. Once more, producing pictures hasn’t at all times been our problem on this sequence, it has been our protection and i believed our protection was so much higher tonight. However yeah, by way of closing out a recreation and executing down the stretch, that’s most likely as dangerous because it will get.”
Nothing’s ever going to be pristine and free-flowing within the playoffs, a reality of which all of the Raptors are actually conscious.
“This time of 12 months is effort and working round and taking part in laborious will not be going to get it carried out,” Fred stated. ”You bought to convey all ranges to the sport, all points of recreation, you bought to play an entire recreation and we simply didn’t do this tonight.
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Grinding it out
Unsure the place the efficiency of Gary Trent Jr. would rank within the all-time-gutsy-Raptors-outings nevertheless it’d have been fairly close to the highest.
The man had been sick as a canine for a few week – he appeared horrible – but one way or the other managed to play greater than 45 minutes, rating 24 pictures, get a few steals and be his ordinary pesky defensive self.
It began quick: He had a steal, a deflection and hit a three-pointer within the first seven minutes of the sport.
“That is one of the best that I’ve felt within the final week. Some sort of viral (factor), no matter it could be — I don’t know what it’s. Fever as much as 102, misplaced like eight kilos. Slowly however certainly I used to be getting my physique again, getting my wind again, that’s about it. Simply making an attempt to push by means of,” he stated.
Helluva recreation for certain.
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Steep studying curve
Yeah, individuals are going to kill Valuable Achiuwa for the 2 missed free throws and if he’d made even one perhaps the entire time beyond regulation isn’t vital and that’s completely true.
However if you happen to get 20 and 6 out of a child taking part in towards somebody who might very nicely be the MVP of the league this season in 35 minutes of intense playoff stress in what was actually simply the third post-season recreation of his life, nicely, that’s fairly darn good, no?
It’s just about the way you’ve received to take a look at it. He’s.
“It is a studying expertise. First time I am really taking part in vital minutes within the playoffs. Simply studying, shifting on, simply getting higher.
“Positively I do know I will be again right here numerous occasions in my profession, and like I stated, it is a studying expertise shifting ahead for me.”
Powerful classes get discovered generally.
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All proper, I’ve received to determine what to put in writing at present and that’s not going to be a straightforward process. All concepts welcome however so are questions for Ye Olde Mailbag to present a purpose to not take into consideration at present’s story on a regular basis.
Shoot a notice off to askdoug@thestar.ca if you happen to can, I’d recognize it.
And since I totally anticipate to be scrambling on Sunday morning to get a fast antigen take a look at so I can get to no matter flight I e-book Saturday night for Sunday afternoon, the sooner you will get a query in, the better it’ll be for me.
Thanks.
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