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NBA PLAYOFFS -- Raptors dispose Heat, set East Finals showdown with Cavs
By Mark Josef
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 16 May 2016
TORONTO -- For the first time in 21 years, the Toronto Raptors are through to the Eastern Conference Finals, thanks to a 116-89 beatdown of the Miami Heat in Game 7 of their Eastern Conference semifinals on Sunday afternoon at the Air Canada Centre.
The All Star backcourt duo of Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan carried the Raptors with a combined 63 points. Lowry had 35 points and 9 dimes while DeRozan added 28 points, and 7 rebounds. punched their ticket into the Eastern Conference Finals with a convincing beat down on the Miami Heat 116-89.
Coach Dwane Casey has always said throughout the course of the playoff that he was going to stick with his All Stars no matter what. After several games in the first round of the playoffs where both DeRozan and Lowry struggled and were criticized for not "showing up", the two Raptors guards, who were key to their regular season success, showed up when it mattered the most.
When asked if he was satisfied with the success they have achieved so far, Lowry responded, "We ain't satisfied that's just our mentality. Internally our goal was to keep playing as long as possible. Yes we're excited but we want to continue to get 4 more wins to get to the (NBA) Finals.
Lowry being the competitor that he is further said, "We know we have a tough task at hand but it's still basketball. They gotta lace it up, we have to lace em' up and go at it"
Asked about the thrill of playing in front of the Toronto home crowd, DeRozan said "It's great to have this home crowd, this organization deserves it, this country deserves it. So to see them get to the next step, to somewhere they've never been is just great"
In the final seconds of the game, when it was clear that Toronto had Game 7 in the bag, the raucous fans at the Air Canada Centre started chanting "we want Cleveland". For a city and a franchise that have struggled for so long, this is a well deserved victory.
The Raptors have a big task ahead of them as they will meet LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday in Quicken Loans Arena.
Photo: Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan carried the Toronto Raptors to a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals following a rout of the Miami Heat.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Mark Josef.
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