Despite the public outcry, the second round series between the Miami Heat and Toronto Raptors hasn’t been as bad as you think.
Depending on who you ask, the NBA Playoffs have been either really bad or really terrible.
Multiple blowouts and lopsided match-ups were the big story of the opening round, but we have had much better games and series since then. Contrary to popular belief, the Miami Heat and Toronto Raptors series has been really good.
I have to clarify that, however. As a basketball fan, I appreciate every game of the season because I love the sport. But scrolling the timelines of Twitter or asking a random casual fan, the games have lacked major excitement, primarily because of poor shooting and low scoring. To that I say, they’ve been watching wrong.
Rather than focus on the negatives, like the fact that only one game has had a team score 100 points, I focus on the positive stories this series has brought us. For example, every game played in this series has been decided by eight points or less. That means that all the games have been refreshingly competitive, given the nature of the first round. Or, the fact that this series has already seen three overtime games already. What that says is that, despite the overall feeling of boredom, this series has had its fair share of compelling endings. Lastly, one could look to the fact that both these teams, after five games, are separated by just THREE total points. How much more even could these teams be?
The series is also long on intriguing story lines that make each game even more interesting. The game of ebb and flow that has been Kyle Lowry. He has 17 total points in each of Toronto’s losses, but averages 25.3 points per game in the three Toronto wins. There’s also the immense struggles of DeMar DeRozan and his impending free agency. Before Game 5’s breakout performance, he had scored 70 points on 80 shots in the series, including shooting 35 percent from the field and an uncharacteristic 58 percent from the free throw line, down from 44 percent and 85 percent in the regular season, respectively. Although he’s been playing through a sore thumb, it hasn’t been a good look for a guy who was expected to command a max contract in the off-season.
On the Heat side of things, the re-emergence of the elite Dwyane Wade has been fun to watch. He’s been averaging 25.8 in the series, including back to back 30-point games in Games 3 and 4. In addition to his overall great play, he’s been even better when the Heat have needed him to lead by example, scoring 18 points in the third quarter of Game 3, and averaging almost eight points in the 4th/OT.
More heat: 5 notes from the Miami Heat loss to the Toronto Raptors
While the series may not be aesthetically pleasing to most, I’ve really enjoyed it. It’s had everything you can ask for in a great series, besides scoring. Heading home down 3-2, our Heat have their backs against the wall. But if this series has taught me anything, it’s that the game will be close no matter what the score reads. That’s all we can ask for.