NBA Playoff Preview and Live Streaming: Toronto Raptors vs Indiana Pacers
The Toronto Raptors did everything they could to chase the Cleveland Cavaliers at the top of the Eastern Conference after the regular season. While they ended up second, it was more than enough for Dwane Casey's boys to get home court advantage against the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the playoffs. However, disaster struck in Game 1 as the Pacers stole that advantage from the get go, winning over the Raptors, 100-90.
Good thing Toronto recovered in time after winning Games 2 and 3, while the Pacers regained momentum by winning game 4. At this point, everything is tied up at 2-2, with the momentum in Indiana's favor but Game 5 heading back to Toronto. As far as both teams are concerned, the next game may in fact be the one that dictates the fate of both squads.
Both have won a game on the road, so it should be interesting to see which of them can protect their home court starting in the fifth game. Of course, Indiana will need to pull another road victory to win the series and Toronto looks to make sure it won't happen again.
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The biggest problem for the Raptors is their overreliance to the backcourt duo of Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan. But when both All-Stars don't click, the team is doomed. For example, when both managed just 25 points combined in Game 1, the team was defeated. So what needs to be done if they want to grab the advantage in the series is to extract contributions from other players, including center Jonas Valanciunas and backup guard Cory Joseph.
The Pacers meanwhile will have to depend on Paul George on the offensive side, but their defense has to improve, particularly when it comes to defending Lowry and DeRozan, both of whom spark the offense of Toronto. So if they can replicate what they did against both offensive-minded guards in their first game, they shouldn't have a problem stealing this one away from the Raptors.
