Lesson From The Champs

The Raptors came up short in the final moments against the Boston Celtics tonight in heartbreaking fashion. The theme tonight was finishing a game, and the Raptors could not handle the pressure of going toe-to-toe with the NBA Champs tonight. It is very simple- to win on the road, no matter how good defence you play (in which they played excellent tonight), you have to be able to score down the stretch. Tonight was a flashback to what we've seen so many times in the past, and what has haunted us in the playoffs- inability to close tight games out. Perhaps this can be accredited to a lack of a 'money' playmaker to turn too down the stretch. Bosh, Calderon and JO are great during regulation, but when a great defensive team like Boston locks up they were not there to answer back. Paul Pierce was dynamite in the last few minutes making impossible looking contested shots. In the last minute however, the Raptors allowed him to easily drive to the hoop, with help coming late and gave up an easy bucket. That put the game out of reach, and the Raptors surrendered a 16 point lead to give the game away. This ending spoiled a great first half of the game for JO who put up 19 points, but was shut out in the 2nd ending with 23. Chris Bosh was quiet all night, and did not even touch the ball late. The Raptors will need to find somebody to step up late in order to avoid this being a recurring event.