Eastern Conference second round preview

EASTERN CONFERENCE

SECOND-ROUND PREVIEW

2. Toronto Raptors

First round: Defeated Indiana, 4-3.

3. Miami Heat

First round: Defeated Charlotte, 4-3.

Season series: Raptors, 3-1.

Key stats: The Raptors allowed just 93.7 points per game in the playoffs, but they shot just 39.3% in the first round, the third-worst among playoff teams. The Heat did even better on the defensive end, allowing only 90.3 points per game, the second-best defense in the playoffs. Heat center Hassan Whiteside led all players in the postseason in blocked shots (3.43) and field-goal percentage (69.8%).

Outlook: For the first time in 15 seasons, the Raptors got past the first round of the playoffs. So much of Toronto’s success depends on the play of its All-Star backcourt: Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan. Neither was spectacular in the first round against the Pacers. DeRozan shot 31.9% from the field, 16.7% from three-point range. He did score 30 points in Toronto’s series-clinching Game 7, but DeRozan took 32 shots to get there. Lowry shot 31.6% from the field in the series, 16.3% from three-point range. Meanwhile, Dwyane Wade, 34, lifted his team in Game 6 against Charlotte and then saw Miami guard Goran Dragic break out of his slump to score 25 points in Game 7. The Heat have been doing this without All-Star Chris Bosh, who has been out since February with a medical condition. Veterans Luol Deng and Joe Johnson have been solid.

Prediction: This is a tough one because the Raptors are so poor offensively and because Bosh is absent. But Toronto will win in seven because of the home-court advantage.