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Miami Heat: The Dragon’s Heat Keeps Miami’s Season Alive

By Eleazar Gonzales

May 13, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat guard Goran Dragic (7) prepares to shoot the ball in front of Toronto Raptors forward Patrick Patterson (54) during the third quarter in game six of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
May 13, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat guard Goran Dragic (7) prepares to shoot the ball in front of Toronto Raptors forward Patrick Patterson (54) during the third quarter in game six of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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After a huge performance in Game 6 to force a Game 7, it’s Goran “The Dragon” Dragic’s heat that’s keeping the Miami Heat’s season alive

Just when we thought the Toronto Raptors would finally get to clinch their Eastern Conference Finals slot for the first time in franchise history, the Miami Heat thought of something else, a 103-91 victory over the Raptors and a Game 7 back in Air Canada Center.

Behind Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan, the Raptors had an opportunity to could close out a Heat team that is already 10-4 when facing elimination under Coach Erik Spoelstra, but Dwayne Wade and Goran Dragic decided to do things another way.

And just when Toronto fans thought they could already celebrate their first ECF appearance, they now will need to hope and pray that their team will perform well to avoid another disappointing exit from the playoffs, which saw them enter as the 2nd seeded team in the East (just behind the Cleveland Cavaliers).

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What went wrong for the Toronto Raptors? Basically everything. What went right for the Miami Heat? Goran Dragic became the Dragon he is known for, firing at all cylinders.

During this year’s playoffs, the Dragon averaged just 16.5 points a game. In the series against Toronto, Dragic norms 17 a night. In Game 6, Dragic erupted for his career-playoff high 30 points.

And he didn’t have to do it alone. He had lots of help beginning with Dwayne Wade’s 22 points, Joe Johnson‘s 13, Justine Winslow’s 12 and, yes, Josh McRoberts‘ 10.

On the other hand, Lowry and DeRozan combined for 59 of the 91 points of the Raptors. The problem was, no other Toronto players have scored in double figures. And that was the difference that doomed the Raptors.

Another problem for Toronto? DeRozan’s miserable percentage from the field. In Game 6, DeRozan shot 8 out of 21, a disappointing 38 field goal percentage. If he continues to shoot that way, the Raptors will be in deep trouble come Game 7.

Goran Dragic, the Dragon, has been bouncing from one team to another since he first came to the NBA in 2008. We cannot say he’s a newbie when it comes to playing in the postseason because he played in the playoffs back in 2010, with the Phoenix Suns.

And since coming over to Miami, again, the Dragon has become a lethal weapon that allows coach Spoelstra to rest Dwyane Wade during games. He is a steady point guard with an eye of a sniper when shooting from the three-point line.

In fact, during this year’s playoffs, Dragic has been shooting 45 percent from three. If he can continue that kind of shooting stroke plus the ability to create his own shots especially in the paint, LeBron James and company, they better watch for this guy assuming Miami wins Game 7 and gets a date with the Cavs in the East Finals.

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Will the Dragon and the Flash work together again to finally eliminate Toronto on their home court? Or will Lowry and DeRozan finally get out from their shooting slump and regain the claws that enabled the Raptors to win 56 games, and finally take down the Dragon?

Only one way to find out: wait until the final buzzer in Toronto.

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