Failure to Make Shots in the Clutch is Going to Sink the Raptors

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There has been a lot of talk about why the Raptors lost Game 1. They choked, LeBron came through. But it all came down to this: the Raptors were not able to make the baskets at the end. It is as simple as that. Unfortunately, that has become the reputation of every Toronto team. Can’t come up with the big goal, clutch hit, drain the shot at the most critical times.

Raptors had two chances to seal the deal. Once with seconds left in the fourth quarter, the other with seconds left in overtime. Both times, the Raptors came up empty. That can’t happen. Not when you are favoured to win, not when you have home court advantage, and not when you are facing Cavaliers team that barely survived the first round against Indiana.

I’m not sure Fred VanVleet is 100%. He is usually makes three-pointers easy. But his wide three-point attempt in the dying seconds of overtime went wide. And the doubts are creeping in again.

But tomorrow is another day. So, the objective of Game 2 is also simple: win the game. In fact, winning is non-negotiable. The Raptors either win Thursday or the series is over next Monday in Cleveland. Period.