"Graduations don't win or lose games" - Vince Carter's mom hit back at critics who said his graduation was the reason the Raptors lost Game 7 to Philly in 2001
Many blamed Vince Carter for the Toronto Raptors' 87-88 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 7 of their 2001 second-round playoff series. That's because the morning before the game, Vince flew to Chapel Hill to attend his college graduation ceremony there.
Critics said that Vince's hectic schedule and probably travel fatigue caused his poor performance in the game which cost the Raptors their first ever trip to the Eastern Conference Finals. However, Vince's mother, Michelle disagreed with his son's detractors.
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"It's a game, you make shots and you miss shots. He missed it. People who want to blame graduation on losing a game, that's a scapegoat," said Mrs. Carter. "Graduations don't win or lose games. Shooting, rebounding, turning over the ball at the wrong time -- that will lose a game for you."
Carter struggled with his shot in Game 7
Playing in what was then the biggest game of his young NBA career, Carter struggled to score 20 points on 6-18 shooting, including 0-3 from 3-point distance. He missed his first three shot attempts and was 3-7 in the first quarter. Vince struggled even more in the second as he scored just three points, all on free throw attempts.
"Air Canada" still could not find his shots in the second half but completed a three-point play that gave the Raptors their first lead at 65-64. But the 76ers immediately regained the upper hand and did not look back. With two seconds left in the game and the Sixers up 88-87, the Raptors had one last chance for victory, but Carter's game-winning attempt clanged off the rim as time expired.
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"I admit the first two minutes I was a little winded," Carter said after the game. "I was trying too hard early. I was tiring myself out."
Related: Kyle Korver said Sixers players were desperate for Allen Iverson to leave the team in 2006: "We want it to be over… just want to move on"
Vince's college degree meant the world to him
Naysayers claimed that Carter's hectic day took a toll on him during the game, although he left the graduation ceremony even before it was over and arrived in Philly five hours before the game. Others blamed travel fatigue, even if Chapel Hill is just an hour or so away from Philadelphia and Carter was traveling via team owner Larry Tanenbaum's private jet. Worse, there were those who belittled him for attending a graduation where he did not even physically receive his diploma yet.
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"It was sad and a shame to hear and read some people say 'it's just a degree' or 'you could buy that degree' or 'what's the big deal in walking across the stage?' That just doesn't make sense. I walk through my front door and see my diploma every day, and that's something that I'm proud of. Because when basketball is over, I still got this," explained Carter.
Coming from a family of educators - Vince's mom and stepdad, Harry Robinson, were both school teachers, education meant a lot to Carter, so no one can blame him for attending the culmination of his educational journey.
He also had the backing of the Raptors when he took the short trip to UNC. And yes, if he made that shot, nobody would've said he shot just 7-18 from the field. As his mom said, it's about missing or making shots. Vince missed his shots, but it was never about going to his graduation.
Related: When Vince Carter dominated Paul Pierce in a high school slam dunk contest
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