Back in reset mode again
Slow start in postseason nothing new for Toronto
TORONTO – DeMar DeRozan knows what the Toronto Raptors have to overcome in Game 2 in the opening round of the playoffs on Tuesday night.
The Raptors were a bit surprised at the way the Milwaukee Bucks’ long-armed defenders erased or altered shots at the rim, particularly in the second half of Toronto’s 97-83 defeat in Game 1 on Saturday.
Bucks center Thon Maker wiped away a certain layup by DeRozan in the third quarter to ignite a fast break, and the 7-foot-1 rookie clearly earned the Raptors all-star’s attention.
“He came up big,” DeRozan said. “To be able to come out in his first playoff game and be aggressive that way, making the right plays and being in the right spot, it was big.
“Now it’s on us to understand his length when he’s out there, the things he’s able to do and not to do. Try to take it away and attack it.”
Toronto made just 2 of 10 shots in the paint and shot 20% from the field (7 of 35) in the second half Saturday. The Bucks were credited with just five blocks in the game — three by Maker — but also altered numerous other shots.
DeRozan called the Raptors’ predicament a “must-win” situation as they prepare for Tuesday’s Eastern Conference first-round game at the Air Canada Centre (6 p.m. Central time, NBA TV and FS Wisconsin).
The Raptors are notoriously slow starters and have not lost confidence, but they are already regretting giving up homecourt advantage in the best-of-seven series.
They had a five-point lead at halftime in Game 1 but the Bucks outscored the Raptors by 10 in the third quarter and kept adding to the margin in the final quarter.
“Did you ever have an old (Buick) Regal that you’ve got to start up, and you sit there for a while before you pull off and go on your little road trip?” DeRozan said.
“Once you get going, the car feels like a 2016 Lexus or something. I think that’s kind of our problem.
“It’s something where we can’t feel our way into it or wait until a team hits us or whatever it may be. We’ve got to have that automatic start and get out as soon as the ball goes up.”
The series returns to Milwaukee for Games 3 and 4 on Thursday and Saturday, so the Raptors know what is at stake on their home court.
“We’ve got to take the approach like we’re down 10 the whole game,” DeRozan said. “If that’s what it’s going to take for us to play the way we need to play, we’ve got to keep that mindset.
“When we look at the scoreboard, we’re down 10 every time we look up.”
The Raptors are 0-9 in first-round series openers, the first team to do that since the Kansas City-Sacramento Kings did it from 1981 through 2001.
But Toronto bounced back twice from opening defeats in last year’s playoffs to advance to the Eastern Conference finals.
“This year’s Game 2 hasn’t happened yet,” Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. “In the past this has been a resilient team.
“For whatever reason, we’re better with our backs against the wall. But we still have to come out and do it (Tuesday).
“They’re a good team. The Eastern Conference is a very balanced conference. Chicago walks into Boston yesterday (Sunday) and beats Boston. Nobody in the Eastern Conference has a cakewalk.”
Ibaka on mend : Raptors forward Serge Ibaka twisted his left ankle early in the third quarter of Game 1 when he landed on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s foot while attempting a three-pointer.
Ibaka stayed in the game but said Monday he is still recovering from the spill.
“I woke up today a lot better,” Ibaka said. “I’m walking perfect, so hopefully tomorrow I’m going to feel better and be ready to go.”
Ibaka said he likely would not have been able to play had a game been scheduled on Monday.
“Tough, it would be tough,” he said. “But I’ve been there before; this is not the first time I’ve sprained an ankle.
“It happened to me before, against Memphis (when he was with Oklahoma City). I played through it.”
Ibaka had 19 points and 14 rebounds in 36 minutes in the series opener.
The 6-foot-10 Ibaka led the league in blocked shots for four consecutive seasons with Oklahoma City (2010-’14), but Antetokounmpo was able to dunk over him in Game 1.
“I remember that
play,” Ibaka said. “A guy like him, when you switch you have to be up. I was down.
“In my mind, I was worrying about a foul or about other things because he was coming at full speed. On the switch, you go up first and then you back up and you’re ready to play 1-on-1.
“If you wait, he’s going to come full speed, he will attack you, and it’s a foul or a basket.”
Tech rescinded: An NBA spokesman confirmed Monday that the technical foul called on Antetokounmpo late in the fourth quarter of Game 1 was rescinded by the league.
Referee Ken Mauer issued the technical with 1:46 remaining after Antetokounmpo blocked a shot by DeRozan and punched his fist in the air in celebration. The Bucks were leading, 95-76, when the play occurred.
DeRozan reacted and had to be held back by Ibaka, but Antetokounmpo said after the game he was not gesturing toward the Raptors player and was just “excited.”
Antetokounmpo did not question the technical and said the next time he would be “a little less excited.”