Is Carter to blame for Toronto's loss to Philly? By Rob Maaddi The Associated Press PHILADELPHIA — Aaron McKie slashed past Vince Carter, caught a backdoor pass from Allen Iverson and scored an easy basket. Antonio Davis slammed the ball in frustra tion. Too lazy to make the play on de fense or too tired from a hectic day of travel? Carter left himself open to intense scrutiny and heavy criticism by at tending graduation ceremonies at North Carolina before Sunday’s Game 7 of the Raptors’ playoff series with the Philadelphia 76ers. He could’ve silenced the critics with another one of his stellar per formances. Instead, Carter looked nothing like the player who torched the Sixers for 3tTpoints in Game 6 Friday night. In the biggest game of his career, Carter had 20 points on just 6-of-18 shooting as Philadelphia eliminat ed the Raptors and advanced to the Eastern Conference finals with an 88-87 victory. “I survived, I was there, I played, did what I needed to do,” Carter said. “It all came down to one shot. It could’ve been a great day or a ter rible day. I don’t let what people say, I don’t let people’s opinions hold me down.” Carter missed a desperation jumper from just inside the 3-point line that would’ve given the Raptors a win at the buzzer. He put his head down, got a consolation pat from a teammate and walked off the court. “It’s a game, you make shots and you miss shots. He missed it. Peo ple who want to blame a graduation on losing a game, that’s a scape goat,” said Carter’s mother, Michelle Carter. “Graduations don’t win or lose games. Shooting, re bounding, turning over the ball at the wrong time — that will lose a game for you.” Jet lag may not have affected Carter as much as a swarming de fense. He constantly had a hand or / survived, / was there, I played, did what I needed to do. Vince Carter Toronto Raptor guard two in his face, often passed up shots and finished with nine as sists. “I admit the first two minutes I was a little winded,” Carter said. “I was trying too hard early. I was tir ing myself out.” Carter missed his first three shots, including two jumpers, be fore following his third miss with a tip-in. He was 3-for-7 in the first quarter. He only scored three points — all on free throws — in the sec ond. In Toronto’s three victories, Carter averaged 41.3 points, includ ing a 50-point outburst in Game 3. He scored 22.3 in the four losses. “It was the same old Vince,” Six ers forward Rodney Buford said. “If he makes the last shot, it would’ve been a different story.” In the second half, Carter made a few clutch baskets, keeping the Raptors in the game. Isolated against McKie late in the third, he drove, to the basket, got fouled, scored the layup and sank the free throw, giving Toronto its first lead, 65-64, since the opening minutes. But the Sixers quickly reclaimed the lead and Carter missed his next two shots — a 3-pointer and a run ning 8-footer. With the Raptors trailing 82-78 and just under five minutes left, Carter missed a 3-pointer. He made two free throws after Davis got the rebound, but didn’t score again. Carter, who left school for the NBA after his junior year in 1998, completed his final correspon dence course this summer and earned his degree in Afro-Ameri can studies. He was recognized with the rest of North Carolina’s Class of 2001, left the ceremonies early to catch a flight to Philadelphia and arrived at Toronto’s hotel in time to attend a pregame meeting at noon. On Saturday, Carter traveled to North Carolina on team owner Lar ry Tanenbaum’s private plane. Carter arrived on campus about 8:30 a.m. Sunday. After signing au tographs and taking pictures out side the ceremony at Kenan Stadi um, he walked out with the rest of the students. Call (541) 3464343 or stop by Room 300 Erb Memorial Union to place your ad today. P.O. 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