The Toronto Raptors fell 101-83 in Game 6 on Friday, failing to eliminate the Indiana Pacers in panic-inducing fashion.
If you've ever jumped off a high dive into deep water and then realized early in the swim back up that you're shorter on air and farther from the surface than you thought, you know how the Raptors feel. They believed for a moment that they were just inches from breaking through, from breaching and taking in a deep, badly needed breath.
But the air never came.
An 18-6 first-quarter lead—punctuated by frenetic action on defense, hustle plays all over the floor and a soaring DeMar DeRozan putback—made it seem like the Raps would run away with Game 6. Toronto was all but assured the cleansing inhalation it so desperately needed. Had that lead held up, giving the Raptors the first (seven-game) series win in franchise history, the pressure release would have been immense.
Toronto gave away Games 6 and 7 during a first-round loss to the Brooklyn Nets two years ago, then completed a second-half collapse in horrid fashion by losing a 4-0 first-round sweep against the Washi ...
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Article written by Grant Hughes
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April 29th, 2016 by Grant Hughes Leave a reply »
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