Raptors chance
Clearly, the Raptors need to take the best-of-seven affair a contest at a time. In this regard, they would do well to keep believing in their capacity to overcome the odds. They cannot dwell on the past; instead, they have to stay confident that they can
Believe it or not, the ESPN Basketball Power Index still gives the Raptors a four percent chance of advancing to the conference finals. Under the circumstances, it’s a mathematical possibility that holds far more meaning on paper than on the court. Down zero and three heading into today’s homestand, it assumes they can ultimately prevail in their series against the Cavaliers by taking every single one of the next four matches. Forget that, in the 70-year history of the National Basketball Association, the feat has never been achieved.
To be sure, the Raptors have yet to live up to promise. As the only competition in the East seemingly able to get the Cavaliers’ attention in postseasons past, they were supposed to be more prepared to keep pace this time around, what with trade- deadline additions Serge Ibaka and P.J. Tucker seen to be defensive pluses. Instead, they have proven to be no better, failing to even come close to the reigning champions in any of the previous three set-tos. And with All- Star Kyle Lowry out due to injury, the prognosis is bleak at best.
Which is not to say the Raptors haven’t tried. In Game Three the other day, they did well enough to stand toe to toe with the Cavaliers for three quarters. As has been their wont, they capitalized on the one-on-one skills of top scorer DeMar DeRozan, getting him to either attack the basket or act as decoy for weak side production. Even as he appeared to solve the traps that awaited him at every turn, however, the other stalwarts of the red and black failed to get anything of substance from myriad open looks. They made only one of their 18 three-point attempts, never mind that 17 of those heaves were uncontested.
Clearly, the Raptors need to take the best-of-seven affair a contest at a time. In this regard, they would do well to keep believing in their capacity to overcome the odds. They cannot dwell on the past; instead, they have to stay confident that they can take the measure of the Cavaliers. Otherwise, the enormity of the task before them will weigh heavily on their shoulders and lead them to inevitable failure.