Kyle Lowry has become a real problem for the Boston Celtics in their Eastern Conference Semifinals series vs. the Toronto Raptors, and they can't afford to have that problem carry into Friday night.
The C's and Raptors are set to face off in a winner-take-all Game 7, and if Lowry has another night like his Game 6 performance, it could be all she wrote for Boston. Lowry finished with 33 points and came up with clutch play after clutch play in the double-overtime thriller.
So how do the Celtics go about preventing Lowry from going off again in Game 7? Kyle Draper and Chris Forsberg discussed in a brand new Celtics Talk Podcast.
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Celtics Talk Podcast: After letting the Raptors off the ropes, can Celtics deliver a knockout punch in Game 7? | Listen & subscribe | Watch on YouTube
Forsberg stressed the importance of taking Lowry out of the game completely and forcing guys like OG Anunoby and Norman Powell to step up. Perhaps rather than investing so much manpower defensively on Pascal Siakam, that focus should instead be on the Raptors' star point guard.
"I do think you just have to take Lowry out. Whatever they did in Game 5, obviously putting [Marcus] Smart on him, having [Daniel] Theis there to help, there needs to be a refocused effort there in terms of just not letting Lowry get hot," said Forsberg.
Boston Celtics
"It's not so much the point total, it's just the way he impacts everything. The keeping balls alive and the tip outs, getting those whistles by hitting the floor hard. You can't let him sort of dictate the tenor of the game and he's done that now multiple times ... They need to find a way to take the head of the snake off here and force OG [Anunoby] to consistently beat you, Norman Powell to consistently beat you."
Also discussed on the new episode: Officiating was an issue, but not the reason the Celtics lost; What was the biggest reason the Celtics lost Game 6? Who is the X-factor for the Celtics in Game 7? Will Game 7 be a defining moment for Brad Stevens? And much more.
Check out the latest episode of the Celtics Talk Podcast on your favorite podcast app or watch it on YouTube below.