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Hard for Raptors to get past Heat if Lowry, DeRozan continue to misfire
- Updated: May 3, 2016
1:57 PM ET
TORONTO — The Toronto Raptors managed to overcome the Indiana Pacers despite the fact that Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan could not make shots.
It’s hard to believe the Raptors will get past the Miami Heat if that trend continues.
Toronto will need more out of DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry if the Raptors hope to advance. Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images
The Raptors became just the second team in NBA history to win a playoff series while their top two scorers shot less than 33 percent, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Lowry shot just 31.6 percent against Indiana and DeRozan connected on 31.9 percent of his shots.
“George Hill and Paul George did a remarkable job on our two All-Stars,” Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri told Rogers SportsNet 590 on Monday night. “For [Kyle and DeMar] to get through this without playing their best basketball, I think there’s good stuff to come.
“And it can’t go on forever,” Ujiri said of the cold shooting. “They’re just too good for it to go on forever.”
Lowry and DeRozan formed one of the NBA’s most potent backcourt combinations during the regular season. Lowry, the point guard, averaged 21.2 points and shot 38.8 percent from 3-point range. DeRozan averaged 23.5 points while shooting 60.9 percent inside the restricted area and 38 percent from midrange.
But all of those gaudy statistics plummeted in the first round, with …
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