The Toronto Raptors had good moments in Game 7 with a 20-7 run at the end of the 1st quarter. The Raptors only scored 6 of the last 23 points in the 2nd quarter.
Sloppy play on unforced errors on turnovers did not help. Kyle Lowry fouled out late in the 4th quarter and could only watch from the sideline.
The 2019 NBA champions will not defend its title, eliminated in 7 games in the second round to the Boston Celtics.
The shot didn't involve 4 bounces like Kawhi Leonard's buzzer beater against Philadelphia in Game 7 in 2019. The OG Anunoby 3-point shot in Game 3 of this series will have its own chapter. The Kyle Lowry pass was almost as sensational.
The Raptors were down by 10 at the half in Game 3.
Toronto Raptors engineer the team's first ever playoff sweep
Toronto had a strong 3rd quarter in Game 6 but the Raptors didn't score over the final 4:24 of regulation.
Norman Powell had a 3-pointer and a pair of free throws, the last 5 points in the first OT. Powell then added 10 points in the second OT — 53% of the team's points in the second OT.
Marc Gosal slightly elevated his offence game after a significant haircut before Game 6. Gasol hit a pair of 3-pointers in Game 6. I like the Samson look but if a short haircut raises the offence, keep it short.
2020 Toronto Raptors NBA playoffs preview
Statistics aren't everything but this one is glaring. The Toronto Raptors didn't try a single free throw in the first half in Game 2. No made free throws; no attempts. Seems very NBA-unlike to happen. Fouls and shots but none for Toronto.
The Celtics won Game 2 by 3 points. The overall FT numbers in Game 2: Boston 23-25 vs. Toronto 16-19.
Toronto Raptors wrap up the 2020 NBA regular season in Orlando
The Raptors shooting ran hot and cold throughout the Boston series. Boston excelled at getting off to good starts. The Celtics had better shot opportunities even with excellent Toronto defence.
Raptors’ Kyle Lowry finds OG Anunoby for the buzzer-beating game-winner over Celtics in Game 3 pic.twitter.com/LDeQMqp4s0
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) September 4, 2020
The Raptors are now 3-3 in Game 7 chances. Toronto had won the previous 3 before last night.
The "road" team won all the games in this series. The problem was that Toronto was the higher seed. The Raptors would have been the higher seed against the Miami Heat. Miami swept the Indiana Pacers in 4 and dominated the #1 seed Milwaukee Bucks in 5 games.
2020 Toronto Raptors NBA playoffs scoreboard
TSN lead off the second run for Canadian telecasts. TSN got 4 games in this series vs. 3 games for Rogers Sportsnet. Overall in the postseason, TSN had 6 games to 5 for Rogers Sportsnet.
TNT had 4 of the 7 telecasts in this round with the other 3 games on ESPN. The Raptors did not air on ABC in the second round. ABC did carry a Milwaukee-Miami game in the series; neither market is terribly huge. We often nearby Buffalo as part of the Toronto market. While that might work in baseball, potential Raptors fans in Buffalo can't watch the team through cable. ESPN and ABC will have the Eastern Conference final in the United States.
CanadianCrossing.com NBA coverage
The Brooklyn Nets — the team the Raptors beat in the first round of the 2020 NBA playoffs — hired a new coach with a Canadian connection. Steve Nash, the greatest Canadian basketball player ever, signed a reported 4-year deal. This is Nash's first full-time coaching venture; he spent 5 seasons as a player development consultant with Golden State.
The Nets had numerous injuries and should look a lot better whenever the next NBA season starts up again. Kevin Durant, who sat out this season with injuries, worked with Nash in Golden State.
Toronto Raptors playoffs history
| 2020 | Boston | 3-4 |
| 2020 | Brooklyn | 4-0 |
| 2019 | Golden State | 4-2 |
| 2019 | Milwaukee | 4-2 |
| 2019 | Philadelphia | 4-3 |
| 2019 | Orlando | 4-1 |
| 2018 | Cleveland | 0-4 |
| 2018 | Washington | 4-2 |
| 2017 | Cleveland | 0-4 |
| 2017 | Milwaukee | 4-2 |
| 2016 | Cleveland | 2-4 |
| 2016 | Miami | 4-3 |
| 2016 | Indiana | 4-3 |
| 2015 | Washington | 0-4 |
| 2014 | Brooklyn | 3-4 |
| 2008 | Orlando | 1-4 |
| 2007 | New Jersey | 2-4 |
| 2002 | Detroit | 2-3 |
| 2001 | Philadelphia | 3-4 |
| 2001 | New York | 3-2 |
| 2000 | New York | 0-3 |
photo credit: NBA/TNT
video credit: NBA/TSN
Twitter capture: @BenGolliver
Comments