Raptors lay the smackdown on the Nets

So you say the Raptors have never held a 3–0 series lead before eh?!

And Just like that the defending champs layeth the smacketh-down on the Nets to take a commanding 3–0 series edge (I can already see Adam Silver suggesting that the Nets pack their bags before Game 4).

Let’s get right into it as we take a closer look at this 117–92 beatdown — a game in which the good guys never trailed, kept the Nets at arms-length, and were in complete cruise control — with our trademark 4 things we liked and 1 thing we disliked.

LIKE #1 — An All-NBA Appearance

Much has been made about Siakam’s bubble struggles (18.5 points on just 37% shooting). To be fair, the criticisms, as much as I hate to admit, are kind of spot-on. We might see the Siakam we know and love for maybe half the game or just in one quarter — but we haven’t seen the full Siakam experience yet. We haven’t seen the game where he puts on his back, drops spin-move after spin-move on helpless defenders, and provides the fireworks that announced his intrusion into the NBA hierarchy.

We’ve had glimpses but we haven’t had the full view.

I think we got like 85% of the full view in Game 3. When the Raptors needed buckets in the third quarter, they turned to Siakam who dropped 14 in the third to give him 26 points heading into the final frame.

The game was pretty much over after three quarters though, so we didn’t need Siakam in the fourth (except for the minute he did play). If this were a close game though, Siakam would’ve been flirting with 40 easy. He finished with 26 points (11-for-23), 8 boards, 5 dimes, 2 threes, and a steal.

LIKE #2 — On Fire

Heading into Game 3, FVV was pretty much a living breathing fire emoji. He was putting up 27.0 points and 10.5 dimes per game in the playoffs, and has been, hand downs, the best Raptor in the bubble. He’s been scorching nets with 51.4% & 52.4% shooting splits. In Game 3, he somehow managed to improve upon his already otherworldly shooting numbers. He finished 8-for-13 from the field and 6-for-10 from downtown.

Despite FVV tormenting the opposition through the first two games, Nets coach Jacque Vaughn had the audacity to question Mr. 1 Finals MVP Vote. He said he wasn’t too concerned about FVV. He said he wasn’t concerned about FVV’s shooting. He said FVV doesn’t hit those deep threes at a respectable clip.

Don’t fuck with FVV, Jacque Vaughn! Here are FVV’s shooting stats from 25 feet or more:

2017: 27% (3-for-11)
2018: 40% (57-for-142)
2019: 36% (71-for-199)
2020: 38% (100-for-264)

It was no coincidence that FVV opened the game with a deep triple, hit a couple more deep threes throughout the game, and even made this half-court heave just because he can:

I hope you learned your lesson Jacque.

LIKE #3 — Bench Spark

I guess Ibaka was just using the eight seeding games as a warm-up for when the real games matter. After putting up just 8.8 points on 42.6% and 25% shooting splits in the seeding games, Ibaka has found his form (outside of Game 2 that is).

In Game 1, he dropped 22 points in 26 minutes. In Game 2, he regressed to just 8 points and was benched late in the fourth quarter, along with Gasol, in favour of a small-ball line-up with Siakam playing the 5.

To start Game 3, he missed all three of his shots in the first quarter which didn’t inspire much confidence after his Game 2 letdown. But in the second quarter, he hit a pick-and-pop J, a three, and then another three, and then another three (as well as a couple crisp passes to a cutting OG and Norm) to finish with 11 points in the quarter. He had a 13 & 12 after three quarters. He finished with 20 points in 23 minutes, hit 8 of his 12 shots, and was a perfect 3-for-3 from beyond the arc.

After putting up just 8.8 points in the seeding games, he’s averaging 16.7 in the postseason.

LIKE #4 — Not Much You Can Do

I wish there were a way we could bottle these Playoff Norm performances so Powell has access to it every single game.

He’s been successful attacking the basket, he’s hitting his triples, his baseline blow-bys are a thing of beauty (he’s good for like 2 or 3 of these per game now). His jump shot looks so smooth — it looks like it’s going in every single time.

Along with Ibaka, we once again got a bench spark from Powell. Norm chipped in 11 points on 4-for-8 overall shooting including 2-for-4 from long-range.

When Norm’s hitting his jumpers AND driving-and-finishing, there’s not much you can do.

DISLIKE — ?

Since the Raptors got their first 3–0 series lead in franchise history, we’re in such a good mood that we’re going to do away with the dislike for this game and give you a bonus like.

LIKE #5 -Poor Caris

Poor Caris LeVert. After putting up 25.0 points per game on 48.0% shooting in the seeding games as well as being named to the All-Bubble Second Team, he had the misfortune of running into the defensive wrath of the Toronto Raptors.

Some possessions it’s OG giving him the business; or it’s Siakam with his length and athleticism giving fits; and, on others, it’s Lowry living rent-free up in LeVert’s jersey. This type of defensive attention and intensity is something LeVert was not prepared for.

In the playoffs, the good guys are holding LeVert to just 15.3 points on 32% shooting. Poor guy.

Until next time…

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