That’s A Rap #108: Post-Game 3 vs. Celtics Reaction

Exhale everybody!

After OG Anunoby nailed the ninth game-winning buzzer-beater in franchise history, the oxygen level in Canada rose dramatically as an entire nation collectively breathed a sigh of relief. The Raptors still have an uphill battle to climb, but they’ve already shown the heart of a champion in getting to this stage.

Enjoy the latest episode of That’s A Rap, especially after Jason edited out most of my girlish squeals, as we break down Toronto’s nail-biting Game 3 victory.

In This Episode:

3:30 — 0.5

How did Kyle Lowry throw a perfect pass — cross-court — over the out-stretched tree branches of Tacko Fall? How was Anunoby open enough that the ball could hang in the air for approximately 45 seconds and still have a wide open shot?

6:05 — Disappearing bench

If you can remember every single point the Raptors bench scored in the same amount of time it took OG to hit his buzzer-beater, then we’ve got a problem. For the third straight game, the one very big advantage the Raptors were supposed to have, continued its no-show.

11:00 — Entering the zone

The Raptors will always have a chance when their defense is focused and moving on a string. Again, Nick Nurse dialed up the zone when Boston was threatening to pull away. It has proven to be a saving grace for this team, other than the four minutes that Enes Kanter blessed us with his matador defense.

14:30 — Trying to increase the spice level

Pascal Siakam entered halftime with more fouls (3) than field goal attempts (2). That’s... not great. Early in the third quarter, there was a concerted effort to put Siakam in advantageous scoring positions. He’s still nowhere near the early season MVP candidate, but seeing the ball go through the hoop is a building block for his confidence.