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The Toronto Raptors will be more than a little nervous when they host Game 7 of their first-round NBA playoff series against the Indiana Pacers. Join The Roar for live scores from 10am (AEST).
Toronto just don’t have an option. They have to get the job done here. Stuck in the first round two years in a row, despite the obvious talent they possess is not good enough.
While they have managed to win some matches this time around and get it all the way to Game 7 it is still a rather poor performance from a team that finished second seed in the Eastern Conference. Of course, plenty of respect for the Pacers who have played really solid Basketball but the Raptors look like a different team from the regular season to the playoffs.
Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan must stand up, as they have done when the Raptors won 2,3 and 5 during this series. Of course, they are strong all over the floor but those two are the men that lead from the front.
It is also important they both fire, because as demonstrated on more than one, two or multiple occasions this season Paul George takes two men to shut him down. He has been shooting the Basketball fantastically, looking to try and draw plenty of fouls as well which has left the Raptors in some trouble.
In Game 6, the Raptors were limited to just 83 points, and it was due to the fact that Indiana were able to stand up in defence and limit DeRozan and Lowry to a combined total of just 18 points. That was less than Paul George put up on his own, and he got plenty of support from teammates.
It’s not just defence causing misses, but also shocking shot selection. Lowry in particular has been ice-cold from behind the arc, shooting only 7 of 37 during the first six games.
DeRozan and Lowry have it in them to improve, as they have shown when the Raptors have won, but the pressure is going to be on here and if they can’t this time then the Raptors will be bundled out in the first round once again.
Prediction
Surely it’s time for the Raptors to escape the clutches of the first round. Paul George is the worry, but with home court, and the advantage they have as he sits on the bench heads will roll if the Raptors don’t find a way to win this one. It’ll be close, but they will get the job done.
DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry just have too much on the line.
Raptors by 6.
Be sure to join The Roar for live scores of this match from 10am (AEST) and don’t forget to add your own comments in the section below as the action unfolds.
Follow Scott on Twitter @sk_pryde