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Does win over Miami HEAT mean Raptors slump is over?

By Brian Boake

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Last night at the Air Canada Centre, the Toronto Raptors prevailed over the Miami HEAT by a 102-92 count. Whether this game was a positive harbinger for the Raptors’ future, or a tap-in putt against a shorthanded team, is not readily apparent. Both teams were missing important members of their respective front courts. Jonas Valanciunas became a father late Thursday evening and was told to take care of his wife and new son, while Chris Bosh is gone for the season with blood clot(s?) in his lungs. LeBron James decamped to Cleveland in the off-season, so without Bosh the former Big Three is down to Dwayne Wade’s battered and aging body. While no one questions DWade’s effort and determination, his savvy keeps his flame alive. Using ball fakes, Wade baited DeMar DeRozan into several fouls in Q4, when the HEAT looked capable of mounting an unlikely comeback against an overly generous (meaning: turnover-prone) Raptor team.

Mar 13, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors guard Terrence Ross (31) shoots against the Miami Heat at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Heat 102-92. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

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There were some positive aspects of this game for Raptors fans. With no low-post presence at hand (Amir Johnson and Tyler Hansbrough started up front), the Raps needed, and received, solid perimeter shooting. The team made 12 three-balls on 33 tries, often triggered by quick ball movement. Four players made at least two 3-balls, so Miami’s defense couldn’t focus on shutting down one or two shooters. I liked Toronto’s defense, particularly against Hassan Whiteside. This fellow has emerged from oblivion to post some huge numbers, but he couldn’t get untracked against the Raps. Toronto’s team rebounding was more than respectable, as were the closeouts against Miami’s long ball shooters.

All that positive stuff aside, there was some troubling data to consider. I have enormous difficulty understanding why the Raptors can’t put opponents away. After Lou Williams made all 3 free throws early in Q4, the Raps had a 21-point bulge, and Greivis Vasquez restored that margin with a 3-ball with 4:51 to play. Yet Wade stepped to the foul line with more than a minute to play and a chance to get the margin down to single digits. He missed, but that’s not the point. How did our lead melt away so precipitously? Here’s a hint: 7 turnovers in Q4.

I complained recently about Terrence Ross’ and Jonas Valanciunas’ substitution patterns being incomprehensible. TRoss played not a second in Q4, the only quarter the Raps lost, and was plus_8 for the game. Greivis played nearly all the fourth, and ended minus_16. What’s the story, Dwane Casey?

The Raps aren’t out of the woods yet. We are back to back starting tomorrow against a winning Portland squad, followed by a visit to the boiling hot Indiana Pacers. Let’s reconsider after those games.

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