The Toronto Raptors and Miami Heat held shootaround ahead of their Game 6 matchup in Miami on Friday. With the opportunity to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time ever, the Raptors should show up hungry and aggressive, but this experienced, veteran Heat team isn’t going to go quietly, especially at home.
Here are some notes and quotes from the session.
Injury Updates
The centers: Jonas Valanciunas (ankle) and Hassan Whiteside (knee) remain out. There’s been no indication of if Whiteside may be available for Game 7 on Sunday, if it happens, and he remains day-to-day. Valanciunas is done for the series but at least out of a walking boot, so it’s possible he could show up at some point if the Raptors advance. He’s progressing, but things take time, as Alex McKechnie told reporters, per Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun. Here’s a look at how the team’s have approached things without their pivots.
McKechnie wouldn't bite on whether there's a chance Valanciunas could be back for a G7 or on what else they are doing for DeRozan' thumb.
— Ryan Wolstat (@WolstatSun) May 13, 2016
DeMarre Carroll: Questionable with a left wrist contusion. He’ll test it out before the game and judge from there. Carroll sounded pretty adamant on Thursday that he’d play, but Will and I broke down the potential fallout of him sitting just in case. Likewise, the Raptors expect Carroll to play but are ready if he can’t.
Both Lowry and DeRozan say they expect Carroll to play ….
— Michael Grange (@michaelgrange) May 13, 2016
Lowry on DeMarre Carroll: "He's an animal, man, he's going to be out there, he wants this situation and he wants to help us win this game."
— Ryan Wolstat (@WolstatSun) May 13, 2016
“I think our team has been resilient the entire year.” – Dwane Casey at morning shootaround. pic.twitter.com/ySi7RdDKWg
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) May 13, 2016
Luol Deng: Questionable with a deep left wrist bruise. He’s also being called a game-time decision, though he participated in walk-through.
Interesting FG splits on #Raptors G DeMar DeRozan vs. #Heat: 31.4% when guarded by Luol Deng, 42.6% when guarded by others @ESPNStatsInfo
— Mike Mazzeo (@MazzESPN) May 12, 2016
Who’s hungry?
There’s been more than enough talk already about morale and feels and who wants it more and so on. It’s an elimination game in the second round of the playoffs. Of course both teams are going to be up for it.
Casey: “We should be desperate. They’ve been there before, we’re trying to get where they’ve been. We should be the hungry team.”
— Ryan Wolstat (@WolstatSun) May 13, 2016
But are the Raptors hungry enough to not be eaten when Kyle Lowry sits? The Raptors have been brutal for the most part when their star hits the bench, and he’s ready to go the distance if need be.
“I can play 48 (mins) if they need me.” – @Klow7 on doing whatever it takes to get a W. pic.twitter.com/H43YipkUnO
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) May 13, 2016
Lowry’s tag-team partner is hungry enough that he’s going through hell to stay on the court.
Shoelace on DeRozan's thumb pushes fluid down, allowing finger movement w/ swelling vanishing temporarily. "It hurts like hell," DeMar says.
— Arash Madani (@ArashMadani) May 13, 2016
DeRozan says his only real feels the thumb when be tries to grip the ball or shoot … Dribbling ok.
— Michael Grange (@michaelgrange) May 13, 2016
Assorted
"I hope they come pretty soon" – @DeMar_DeRozan on waiting for a red shoelace endorsement. pic.twitter.com/vI6DwltWXl
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) May 13, 2016
