This is getting tiresome, and it’s tough not to get frustrated at the Raptors inability to not suck at the start of a playoff series. It’s both frustrating and almost comical (you know, if it didn’t suck as much as it does) how they continually find new ways to fail to gain the initial momentum.
Losing game one was Kyle Lowry’s fault. It hurts to write that, as Kyle Lowry is normally over everything, but it is the simplest explanation for what happened. The Raptors simply can’t thrive when their best player scores 4 points on 11 shots, misses all 6 of his three pointers, only gets to the line one time, and registers a team worst -22.
This was Kyle Lowry’s worst game of the season, perhaps his worst as a Raptor, and it came at one of the worst possible moments. Even when Lowry struggles on offense, he can normally still impact the game on the other end of the court. Instead, Lowry was routinely beat off the dribble or lost his man off ball.
Granted, Lowry was far from the only problem in game one, as almost every Raptor struggled, but as the team plays off of Lowry their struggles are less surprising. As Milwaukee built their lead in the third quarter, there was clear panic among the Raptors on the court.
Shots were rushed and/or forced. Switches were done outside of a structure. Rebounders were not boxed out (although this was a problem throughout the entire game). And shooters were left wide open.
And I have no words left. Like many Raptors fans I basked in reading the many basketball analysts predicting a trip to the NBA Finals, but it felt strangely unsettling too. It was as if I was being set up for a bigger disappointment then I have experienced in my time as a Raptors fan.
In many ways, I feel like a neglected dog that doubts the kindness it is given, and needs to be reminded that there are nice things/people in the world.
Yes, this is melodramatic, but I don’t care. Saturday was full of anticipation of good things, and the Raptors crapped all over my dreams. Game one sucked, and if the Raptors can’t solve the numerous problems from game one then it could easily follow the same pattern.
As much as I blame Kyle Lowry for ruining my Saturday, I clearly share the blame for allowing myself to hope that this game one could be different.
The Raptors may not need Lowry to always be at his best, but they need him to at least be average if game two is going to be any different.
