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When Bam Adebayo buried a three-pointer, on an open look no less against a defensively deficient Raptors team, Toronto’s fate had finally been determined.
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Bam’s basket came with 2:41 remaining in the opening half, a bucket that would give the host Heat a 60-42 lead Friday night Kaseya Center.
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Not that the Raptors had any chance to beat the Heat, but it was clear the visitors couldn’t wait for the season to end.
That moment will arrive late Sunday afternoon when Toronto’s stay in South Beach concludes.
Unofficially, the moment arrived weeks ago when Toronto’s run into sheer mediocrity tipped off on March 1, punctuated by an embarrassing 15-game losing streak.
While Miami remains a team with an established culture and a style of play that never wavers, the Raptors lack identity, talent and a vision.
Trailing by 18 points and showing no signs of even trying to mount a comeback, the night became an exercise in redundancy and futility.
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At least they’ll know they will finish with the sixth-worst record in the NBA following their 125-103 loss to Miami.
And with it, the Raptors have a 45.8% chance of landing a top-six pick in the coming draft.
If the draft lottery sees the Raptors fall outside the No. 6 slot, the selection will belong to the San Antonio Spurs as part of last year’s trade deadline deal involving Jakob Poeltl, who was hurt in a home win over Charlotte, two nights after Scottie Barnes was injured in a home loss to Golden State.
As bad as the Raptors have been, regardless of the many injuries and the many players who have dressed for the team, the NBA is dotted with sad-sack franchises, a sorry lot that features the Hornets, Detroit, San Antonio, Washington and Portland.
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The Raptors will undoubtedly cite the trades that sent OG Anunoby to New York and Pascal Siakam to Indiana, the injuries to Barnes and Poeltl, or any other excuse when trying to dissect the carnage.
No one should buy it knowing the Raptors have been unwatchable.
On rare nights when they do play well, the opposition is inferior or when huge deficits are created Toronto’s perceived sense of inspired play is an illusion.
Thankfully, it all ends Sunday.
Toronto’s most glaring weakness, outside of the obvious talent disparity, is on the defensive end.
The Heat torched the Raptors in the paint, on the perimeter and scored when forcing turnovers.
Miami scored the game’s first basket and never trailed.
Only once was the game tied, 10-10.
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It was bad basketball, the type of game that has been allowed to play out for what seems like the entire season.
People want to complain about the lack of fouls, but the Raptors have never established a consistent style of play.
It also hurts the club’s case when there’s no legitimate superstar on the floor.
Technically, Barnes played in this year’s all-star game, but he was selected as an injury replacement.
For what it’s worth, Toronto’s starting group Friday night wasn’t that bad, but only when compared to what the team has been forced to field, which has been beyond bad.
R.J. Barrett did have a very nice game, was able to get to the line and clean the glass.
He posted a double-double midway through the third quarter.
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Barrett, whose parents were in attendance, ended the night by scoring a game-high 35 points to complement his 11-rebound performance.
To be fair, the Raptors were a bit more competitive in the second half, but it hardly excuses their inexcusable first-half performance.
Still, after three quarters the Raptors trailed, 92-75.
HEAT CHECK
Miami took the play-in route to advance all the way to the NBA Finals last spring where it eventually lost to the Denver Nuggets.
With the NBA poised to end its regular season Sunday, the various playoff matchups and play-in teams will officially be established.
Heading into Friday’s play, the Heat’s fate was very much up in the air.
In a nutshell, Miami requires help from the Orlando Magic and Philadelphia 76ers to avoid a second straight play-in tournament.
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If every result goes Miami’s way, it will create a three-way tie with the Magic and 76ers.
In this scenario, Miami gets the nod based on a better conference record.
If Orlando and Philly takes care of their business, the Heat will be slotted in the play-in draw.
A win in the play-in vaults Miami into the playoffs.
If you recall, Miami lost to visiting Atlanta in last spring’s play-in and then played host to Chicago after the Bulls beat the Raptors in Toronto.
“We’re going to set ourselves up to probably be in the play-in,” said sharpshooter Tyler Herro.
“We’ve been there before and we’ll figure it out.”
Herro, who was sidelined following a foot injury, returned to Miami’s lineup this past Tuesday when he scored a team-high 33 points in a 117-111 double OT road win against the Atlanta Hawks.
Herro was in Miami’s starting unit Friday night.
“I don’t care about the standings,” said Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra. “I’m focused on getting my team playing the right way.”
Truth is, the standings do care.
To nail down the No. 7 seed, which assures the Heat of avoiding Boston in the opening round, Miami will need to win the 7-8 matchup in the play-in.
A loss in the 7-8 game would result in Miami playing the winner of the 9-10 game between the Hawks and Bulls for the No. 8 seed.
Either way, so much will be at stake Sunday, including Miami’s fate.
fzicarelli@postmedia.com
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