A closer look at compelling Heat-Raptors series

PLAYOFF SCHEDULE | EXPERT BRACKETS

TORONTO — The Toronto Raptors and Miami Heat survived first-round scares with Game 7 victories, and now they meet in what should be a long series. Let’s look at this matchup from a bunch of different angles before it gets going on Tuesday at the Air Canada Centre.

PREVIOUSLY ON RAPTORS-HEAT: The Raptors won three of the four games, and their lone loss was a 20-point defeat in November. That would seem to bode well for the No. 2 seed, but I’d argue there that the regular-season series isn’t all that illuminating. Miami completely changed its style of play after the All-Star break, losing Chris Bosh because of a medical issue and adding Joe Johnson after a buyout.

The teams have met just once since then and it went to overtime, with the Raptors prevailing 112-104 at home. Dwyane Wade missed that game with a thigh injury, though, and Toronto had James Johnson and Luis Scola in the rotation instead of DeMarre Carroll and Norman Powell.

One trend, though: DeMar DeRozan caused all sorts of problems. Against the Heat, DeRozan averaged 29.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists, shooting 48.8 percent, making 36.4 percent of his free throws and getting to the charity stripe 10 times per game. More on him later.

THE BIG PICTURE: Can either of these teams be consistent? Miami blew out the Charlotte Hornets in Games 1 and 7 of the first round, but everything in between was rocky. The Raptors barely survived against the Indiana Pacers, dropping Game 1 at home and even surrendering a fourth-quarter run before hanging on in Game 7.

In the first round, we saw the Heat at times look like an offensive juggernaut, pushing the ball and making open 3-pointers at will. We also saw them look ordinary, bricking jumpers and failing to score 90 points in three straight losses. Toronto had stretches where it looked like the deep, disciplined team that won 56 regular-season games, but at other times it got sloppy and rushed things.

This is the most compelling matchup in the semifinals, and it’s hard to pick just one head-to-head storyline to focus on. Here are five:

1) DeRozan, at his best, is reminiscent of a young Wade, from the pump fakes to the quick spins and the midrange jumpers.

2) Point guards Kyle Lowry and Goran Dragic were once teammates in Houston, only to leave and elevate their games elsewhere.

“You got one …

continue reading in source www.cbssports.com