Toronto Raptors need to find a way to get back into their first round series versus the Washington Wizards. Down 2-0 heading into Washington for game three the Raptors goal of a second round appearance is dwindling.

Dwane Casey sent a stern message to his team Thursday saying, “if you’re not going to Washington to compete, don’t come out to the airport. We’ll get you a nice meal somewhere in Toronto at a nice restaurant and you can watch it on television.”

Every player seems ready to take the floor in Washington on Friday and they should be ready to compete. It’s time for the Raptors to show up and put up. Here are five key’s to victory for the Raptors heading into game three:

1. Everyone and Kyle Lowry

There’s been a lot of talk regarding Kyle Lowry’s play of late. The Raptors all-star has been dealing with multiple injuries over the last month, and it has translated into him struggling on the court. Over the first two games versus the Washington Wizards, Lowry has averaged 6.5-points, 5.0-rebounds and 4.0-assists. What’s even more alarming is Lowry has yet to hit a three pointer in the series as he’s shooting 25% from the field.

The point guard left game two after sustaining a shin contusion. Lowry will play in game three, however, that doesn’t mean he’s necessarily healthy. Still, the banged up Lowry has been a major discussion across the Raptor community. Hence, the title of this key to victory. The team needs to pick up Lowry.

It’s not just one man struggling. The whole team has been reeling post all-star break. The first two games of the playoffs have been the lowest of lows and if anything Lowry needs his teammates to step up. Lou Williams led the charge late in game one but the Raptors fell short. DeMar DeRozan has begun relying on his mid-range game a lot lately. Though, the Raptors need the attack mode DeRozan who averaged 11.3 free throws during last year’s first round series versus the Brooklyn Nets. So far against the Wizards DeRozan has only been to the charity stripe eight times.

For the rest of the roster, it’s time to start making big shots. Role-players such as, Greivis Vasquez and Terrence Ross need to step up offensively and defensively. Amir Johnson and Tyler Hansbrough need to bring the energy on the defensive end. Jonas Valanciunas needs to be more vocal demanding the ball trying to get the Wizards frontcourt in foul trouble, as they have been an issue for the Raptors offensively.

Lowry’s in a state of pain and low confidence. All season long he’s been carrying the team. It’s time the team put him on their back.

2. Cancel Everything Out

Last season Raptors seemed to be playing for their fans. They seemed to use home-court to their advantage. They even had live footage of their fans standing in the rain while the team was playing in Brooklyn. It rallied them together.

This time around it seems the players are slumping at a rate that not even a packed Air Canada Centre and Jurassic Park can help. Now, on the road for game three Raptors need to lock in. As individuals and as a team they need to find something positive to build on.

The fans will continue to support but their presence won’t be at Verizon Center in Washington. The media will continue to comment and raise questions but that needs to be zoned out. Most importantly get the Wizards out of your head. Forget about who’s the best backcourt. Forget about ‘it’. Forget game one and two. Go do you. Go have fun. Loosen up and enjoy it. You’re in the playoffs, something 14 other teams wish they could say.

Game three is a clean slate and Raptors just need to worry about themselves.

3. Score!

Toronto is a scoring team and it’s time they realized that. Simple fact is, Raptors will hit their fair share of three’s. It’s a question of, can they get into the paint? Can they share the ball? If everyone gets involved the Raptors will be a strong offensive team again. It’ll lead to better defensive intensity. All the issues will be forgotten if the Raptors can just remember that they can score.

They scored 106 points in game two, but they did not score for a full 48-minutes. Scoring 18-points in the second quarter hurt them as much as their defense did. Their best defensive quarters in game two came in the first and fourth, which were also their best offensive quarters. A full 48 leads to a win Friday night.

4. Dwane Casey

Last year it was Jason Kidd who outcoached Casey and this year Randy Wittman is doing the same.

The Raptors head coach needs to stop sticking with his game-plan. Every coach comes into a game with a plan, but when the plan is not working you need to adjust in-game. Casey has struggled to do that. In game one it was Paul Pierce playing the power forward position that hurt the Raptors. Game two was all kinds of reasons – the Wizards starting backcourt of John Wall and Bradley Beal and role player Otto Porter were a couple. In game adjustments need to improve from Casey as much as his teams scoring needs too.

Also, Casey needs show less frustration. Any anger or words he has to say needs to be said prior to the game and at halftime. A frustrated Casey during the game is bad for a Raptors team already with low confidence. The players need to see that their coach still believes.

5. Remember, They Took Two in Your House

Washington Wizards stepped into the Air Canada Centre, ran all over your court, got your own crowd to boo you and now hold a 2-0 series lead. That right there should be enough to put a chip on the Raptors shoulders. With the opportunity to repay the favour and take two in Washington is an opportunity that can’t be passed up.

This series is not over, yet. If the Raptors can do what the Wizards did to them on their court this series goes from 2-0 to even at two apiece. Instead of a seven game series, we are looking at a best of three.

No team should take it lightly when another team embarrasses them on their own court. Along with the Raptors needing to start scoring more consistently, they need to bring a little “swag” like Casey said on Thursday. Show the Wizard that this is no cake walk for them.

If the Wizard taking two at the ACC is not enough to get the Raptors going, just know that they were the only team with home-court advantage to lose the first two games in this year’s playoffs.

Game three will decide the series as no team has comeback down 3-0. Raptors need to prove they belong in the playoffs, as they have yet to do so. It starts with the whole roster showing up and putting up.