After two games in Cleveland, the Toronto Raptors have shown the inability to matchup against the Cavaliers, being thrashed in both games by an average of 16.5 points. DeMar DeMar was horrible in Game 2, scoring just five points on 2-of-11 shooting. He scored his first field goal in the fourth quarter, which is highly disappointing for Toronto’s best player.
Kyle Lowry’s injured ankle
The biggest concern for the Raptors, however, is the health of star point guard Kyle Lowry. He injured his ankle in Game 2 and is considered a game-time decision. Lowry expressed that his ankle is still sore, which means that even if he plays, he may not be 100 percent. Toronto’s capability of winning Game 3 heavily relies on Lowry’s injury status. If he is out, the Raptors may have a tough time winning. They have already struggled in this series and cannot afford to lose their most important player to injury being down 0-2 in the series.
Raptors cannot stop LeBron James
DeRozan would pay anyone $100 to stop LeBron James, but realistically, there is no stopping the four-time MVP. When James chooses to be aggressive, there is very little the defense can do to stop him. The Raptors have tried a lineup change to matchup better on pick-and-rolls, but it didn’t work in Game 2. They have tried allowing James to become a perimeter shooter, but he has been efficient from outside as well.
Even P.J. Tucker, who was specifically brought in for this matchup, is having a tough time containing James. It seems that the Raptors are not physical enough and are a step slower. They need to try to pack the paint to make drives toward the basket for James and even Kyrie Irving more difficult.
DeMar DeRozan’s shooting woes
The Raptors will not win any games in this series if DeMar DeRozan continues to slump on the offensive end. There is no excuse for the best player on the Raptors to be so inefficient and ineffective. The Raptors need DeRozan to score around 25-30 points for them to have a chance, not five, especially if Kyle Lowry doesn’t play.
It’s embarrassing that DeRozan is once again disappearing during the playoffs when the team needs him the most. However, being at home, there is a good chance that DeRozan gets his confidence back to help his team win.
It’s a must-win situation for Toronto, as they cannot afford to go down 0-3 since no team has recovered from such deficit. The defensive end needs plenty of work, and the Raptors are hoping to feed off the energy of their home crowd. Game 3 will take place at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto and will be televised on ESPN at 7 pm Eastern Time.