The Raptors went to Washington with a chance to end their quarter-final series with the Wizards. A seesaw game was decided in Q4 in Toronto’s favour.
The Toronto Raptors are becoming better than we’d like at allowing playoff opponents to hang around. The series with the Washington Wizards was looking like another case in point, until the fourth quarter of last night’s game. Toronto shut down an increasingly exhausted home team, held the Wiz to 4 buckets, won the final 12 minutes by 15 points, and the game by 10.
We didn’t need any further proof of the importance to the Raptors of their depth, but we got it anyway. While Kyle Lowry led the scoring with 24, the bench mob, led by the return of Fred VanVleet, pounded away at Washington. Pascal Siakam, his face a mask of pure determination, had 11 points, 8 rebounds and boasted a plus_18.

The Raptors have been setting themselves on fire with seemingly constant turnovers during the first five games, but didn’t suffer in this one. They had 8 steals (4 by the opportunistic Delon Wright) and a mere 7 turnovers. We’ll take more steals than turnovers every time it’s offered, thanks.
Take a bow, Dwane
Toronto didn’t get outcoached, a phenomenon which had occurred several times, particularly in Game 4. Dwane Casey allowed the bench boys to make a few mistakes without using a quick hook, and the payoff was evident in crunch time. Washington’s primary shotmakers, John Wall and Bradley Beal, had hardly been off the floor all game. Contested baskets those two were making early starting rolling off the rim late, and into the hands of grateful Raptors.
Marcin Gortat couldn’t keep up with the Raptors’ dribble penetration in Q4. DeMar DeRozan, Lowry and Jonas Valanciunas, who had his second straight excellent outing, punished the gassed Wizards center.
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JV’s double-double was impressive, and so was his flat-footed (that’s a positive!) defense. He’s using the principal of verticality better than he ever has in his career. He frustrated several Wizards’ drives by refusing to concede any space while holding his arms straight up.
VanVleet’s return wasn’t distinguished by great shooting; he hit just one long ball. However, his presence and coolness seemed to add a dimension otherwise unobtainable. Casey wasn’t shy about playing all three of his point guards at the same time. The result was tough defense, even against bigger lineups, and sound ball management.
Lots to look forward to
Raptors fans, we can all heave a sigh of relief. Our guys bent in this series, but never broke. When the chance arrived to put the upstarts away, they did. Now there’s a chunk of time to rest and recharge batteries. Their next opponent hasn’t been determined yet, as Cleveland and Indiana are going to a seventh game.
Our team hasn’t played its best basketball so far. DeRozan’s and C.J. Miles’ shooting continues to be shaky, and Serge Ibaka has taken on the role of the Invisible Man. If we can get those people making their usual percentage of deep shots, we’ll be good to go against either the Cavaliers or Pacers.