Raptors at Miami Heat, Gm 6: Preview keys to victory

The Raptors have never won Game 6 of any playoff series in their history. Will tonight be different?

Is it close-out night, or are we to be disappointed? Will Dwyane Wade find the fountain of youth, or toss up bricks? Who’s going to play for either team? So many questions to be answered, as the Toronto Raptors make their first (and hopefully last) attempt at knocking the Miami Heat out of the playoffs.

Should our team win, they advance to the Eastern Conference finals against a well-rested and healthy Cleveland Cavaliers outfit. A Heat victory produces a Game 7 at the Air Canada Centre on Sunday afternoon.

Both teams are plagued with injuries, though some of the walking wounded will attempt to play. DeMarre Carroll is listed as starting for the Raptors, despite leaving Wednesday night’s game in considerable pain after landing on his left wrist following an awkward collision. I’ll believe he’s starting when he’s announced at 8:00, not before. Jonas Valanciunas, of course, won’t dress for either this game or the next, if there is one.

DeMar DeRozan has a badly sprained thumb on his shooting hand, for which the only cure is rest. That’s not happening, so we are reduced to hoping he can somehow protect his hand from contact.

The Heat list Luol Deng (wrist) and Hassan Whiteside (knee) as “TBD”. Deng is a maybe, while Whiteside is out, I say.

Providing a meaningful preview with so many question marks is not easy. I suggest it’s time for coach Dwane Casey to return to first principles:

1. Everybody has to defend. If you don’t know your rotations, if you are being beaten off the bounce or not boxing out, you can’t stay on the floor. The Raptors have created a bunch of points off turnovers, and will need to continue to harass Miami.
2. Use the entire roster. Casey received useful minutes from veteran Jason Thompson, in his first series appearance, on Wednesday night. He can spell Patrick Patterson, who looked thoroughly gassed in the second half. That’s hardly surprising since he played almost 41 minutes. Give James Johnson an eight-minute run covering Joe Johnson. Let’s see Lucas Nogueira in for Bismack Biyombo again. Tired players are more prone to injury – please coach, give our main men their rest.
3. All this stuff applies to the Raptors offense too. Terrence Ross took 3 shots in 22+ minutes, and made 2. He’s got to be involved at that end of the floor. DeRozan announced his return to form with 34 points. Miami will blanket him, and it’s imperative he find passing targets who can make shots. Patterson needs to rediscover his touch from deep.

While I doubt the Raptors will run out to a 20-point lead at any stage of this game, they don’t have to. Have faith in each other, defend like maniacs, and walk off the court exhausted but happy with an 89-86 win.