Continuing our “coverage” of the NBA post-season, a couple of thoughts on the Toronto-Orlando series that is officially into panic mode for the Raptors.

Sure you’re only down 2-0, a less-than-enviable position, but not one that necessarily requires hysteria in areas around the Gardiner Expressway. At the same time, the Raptors have only shown a sign of life at brief moments during the series and I’m losing faith in Sam Mitchell as a coach. I know, it’s shocking.

First off, Toronto had a chance to roll over and play dead after another atrocious first quarter but they’re full marks for responding in the second, closing to within two at the half and then not letting Orlando pull away in the third when the lead hovered around seven to nine points. They battled back, knocked down some big shots and eventually gave themselves a chance to win.

So close your eyes Raptors fans, what I’m about to say won’t go over well.

Chris Bosh ain’t clutch.

Now, this is not a derogatory comment on his importance to that team. It’s quite clear that he’s the most valuable player on that team and his 29-10-6 line was a solid playoff stat. But Bosh was given the reins on the Raptors final two trips and came up empty both times, the first go-round a wing-to-lane drive against Dwight Howard that ended with Bosh absorbing a bit of contact and then losing control of the ball in mid-air. The final trip, after a time out, with nine seconds left, ended with Bosh settling for a 19-foot jump shot over Howard that ended the game when it biffed and fell into Orlando’s possession.

Jose Calderon had scored eight of the Raptors’ final 15 points and Carlos Delfino had six of the final 15, yet it was Bosh who the Raptors drew things up for in that final time out. So they ran the screen and roll, which created nothing, and then Bosh settled for a shot on the most important possession of the team’s season.

The results were predictable.

Bosh didn’t look like a player who wanted the ball in his hands in those final two minutes or so, but he’s not the one to blame for that final possession. All he did was miss a shot he probably shouldn’t have been lined up to take anyway.

How on earth the Raptors go into a time out — you know, the place where you plan your plays? — and come out with a play I wouldn’t even recommend you run during a video game is beyond me. Yet Mitchell did it.

Maybe it was a breakdown somewhere, but how the Raptors bungled that possession is unacceptable. Nine seconds is a world of time and they not only wasted that but also a great opportunity for a road split.