Toronto Raptors: 9 Revelations from Game 1 win over Wizards
By Demar Grant
8. 3’s Please
The Toronto Raptors set a postseason single-game franchise record for three-pointers with 16, hitting 53.3 per cent (!!) from deep in Game 1 including Pascal Siakam hitting 1-of-2, DeRozan hitting 2-of-5 and Serge Ibaka hitting 3-of-4.
To say the Raptors shot the 3 uncharacteristically is an understatement, but they weren’t necessarily forced. According to NBA.com, only four of Toronto’s 30 attempts from deep were classified as tightly contested (a defender within four feet) shots. The Wizards aren’t described as staunch defenders, the long ball will be available to the Raptors all series, it’s just up to the shooters to make them.
9. Lowry Doesn’t Need to Score to be Effective
Which other point guards can make this defensive play, other than the two involved in it here:
Mike Conley? Russell Westbrook? Ricky Rubio? Jrue Holiday maybe? The list is very small. Lowry, with 11 points, three rebounds and nine assists isn’t going to score much this series, but he doesn’t need to.
Lowry will always start the origin of the offence, but he’s not always meant to be the finisher anymore. He’s the magnet that draws the defence while everyone else feeds off his electricity.
The Raptors’ new offensive philosophy has deemphisized Lowry this entire season, but it’s empowered everyone else. Make the right pass, play unselfishly and Lowry doesn’t need to put up 20 points a game for the Raptors to win.
The ball leaves one’s hands, but it can always be trusted to come back; this time the best option was a Delon Wright open 3, next time, it might be a Lowry layup. Trusting the offensive system up until this point led to a historical Raptors regular season; leaving it behind now is folly.
Next: A look back at other firsts in Raptors' history
What are your predictions for Game 2 and for the rest of the series? Will the Toronto Raptors ultimately prevail and advance to the second round? Let us know in the comments below.