Raptors vs. Indiana Pacers, Game 7 – Preview & 3 keys to W

The Raptors have yet to play a complete game against the pesky Pacers, and in Game 6 the Raptors were outclassed in the second half. Somehow that disaster must be forgotten, and Game 7 won.

I’ve been offering you my thoughts for several years now, and I cannot remember a post I so didn’t want to write as this one. But here we are – it’s Game 7, and one team’s season is done after tonight. The Toronto Raptors, having badly fumbled their first chance to eliminate the Indiana Pacers, get another, this time in the friendly confines of the Air Canada Centre.

The Pacers have demonstrated the ability to get their main man, Paul George, the shots he needs. He has shown he can make them; he’s tied with Cleveland’s Kyrie Irving for the playoff scoring lead with 27.5 points per game [PPG]. Pacers coach Frank Vogel has been roasted for sitting George down at the wrong times, yet George has been fresh in crunch time.

In the telling statistic of plus-minus, George leads all players in this series with a plus_8. The Raptors best performer is Norman Powell with a plus_3.8. Our only starter with a positive number is Kyle Lowry, with a virtually meaningless plus_0.5. Who’s on the bottom, you ask…DeMar DeRozan, at minus_4.8.

DeMar does lead the Raptors, and indeed all players, in one stat – turnovers, with 18. George is close behind with 16. Monta Ellis is the steals king with 15, while George has 11. No Raptor has reached double figures.

There are multiple lessons here, most of which we already knew:

• DeRozan has been dreadful so far – can you imagine what his numbers would look like without his monster Game 5? I could answer my own question, I suppose, but I don’t have the stomach.
• the Raptors need to sit George down in a manner not of coach Vogel’s choosing, i.e., with foul difficulty
• Toronto has to be more careful with the ball

The Raptors’ normal offense has been a bust, averaging 92.8 PPG as compared to 102.7 during the regular season. Defensively the Raptors have been adequate; Indiana is averaging 95.3 PPG versus the 98.2 the Raptors allowed. If the Raptors are going to emerge from their dark tunnel of crashed hopes and actually win this series, they will need to find some scoring.

Here’s 3 ways to punch up the offense:

1. DeRozan needs to use his passing to set up his shooting. Under normal circumstances, it’s the other way ’round, but Indy has shown superior ball hawking skills and the ability to finish the fast break with an easy bucket. DeMar needs his touches early in the clock, and should use those to quickly release the ball to Jonas Valanciunas down low, or kick out to DeMarre Carroll or Lowry. The dribble-drive isn’t working. He’s not getting fouls called and he’s not making shots – all he’s doing is stifling ball movement, or creating turnovers.
2. Somebody in the second unit needs to start making some baskets besides Cory Joseph. I realize that’s not a tactic; I’m expressing my frustration.
3. Start Jason Thompson. The power forward slot has been so bad for so long I think we fans have become blind to how much of a problem it is. Indy’s Myles Turner, a rookie, leads all players with 3.2 blocked shots PG, and sits second on their team in rebounds, and third in points. 2-Pat isn’t getting it done, and has a mental block about starting anyway.  Maybe Jason can pull down some defensive boards and start the fast break.

Let’s hope Kyle Lowry’s elbow allows him to make some shots. If so, and if DeRozan can enjoy even moderate success, we’ll win this thing. Toronto 104-Indiana 98.