As we look forward to another set of awesome Game 2’s in the Playoffs, let’s look back at some highlights and insights that could have set the tone of the series and validate or negate our perspective of the first-round match-up.
Here are some highlights and insights from all Game 1 results:
Toronto Raptors 114, Washington Wizards 106
TOR leads 1-0
The curse in Toronto has been broken. They were able to win their first playoff-opener in franchise history, ending their 10-game losing streak in game 1’s in the first round. Is it a good sign for the top-seeded eastern conference team, or is it not?
The first half of the contest showed a struggling dynamic All-Star duo. Although both All-Star contributed to their victory with Kyle Lowry registering 11 points and nine assists and DeMar DeRozan tallying 17 and six, both showcased subpar performances. This is not a good sign for the Raptors if they continue to scuffle at any point in this postseason, especially against the Wizards’ own pair of All-Stars, the ferocious duo of John Wall and Bradley Beal.
Three things to consider in this series after Game 1:
This series will determine the fate of both teams
Both teams made minimal changes to their core roster for the 2017-2018 season. This playoff series will signal changes for both teams, either breaking up the All-Star duos or adding complimenting players to their team. But for sure, change is coming (either one or both teams, depending on how far the series winner gets) unless both organizations are content with their postseason results. Bigger stakes are on Toronto’s shoulders if they lose this first-round series against Washington.
Consistency
This series will be determined with consistency. Toronto owned Game 1 because they shot the ball well, (53.2% from the field and 53.3% from deep), controlled the boards (38 rebounds) and protected the rim (7 blocks). However, they turned the ball over three more times than Washington. It was a good start for the Raptors but they need steady gameplay from DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry for future success. On the other hand, Wizards’ John Wall and Bradley Beal need more help from Otto Porter Jr, who registered only nine points and five rebounds in 32 minutes, and Kelly Oubre Jr, who was limited with three points on 25% from the field.
Importance of Depth
One glaring factor in this series is bench depth. Dwane Casey worked all season to design an effective rotation, unloading and distributing the work amongst his players, and it paid off. In Game 1, the Raptors were given a big boost from their bench, outscoring Washington’s reserves 42-21, led by Delon Wright with 18 and CJ Miles with 12. Norman Powell, Jakob Poeltl and Pascal Siakam also hounded the Wizards with their sticky defense.
Thoughts after Game 1: The Raptors will surpass the sneaky Wizards for a series win.
