Cavaliers 116 – Raptors 105: flattering score
By Brian Boake
The Raptors claim to be tired of dropping the first game of every playoff series save one in this century. So why weren’t they ready for the Cavaliers onslaught?
The Toronto Raptors were hoping to get their series against the Cleveland Cavaliers off on the right foot. An upset victory in Game One would jolt the NBA. To do so, the Raptors would need a strong start, in stark contrast to the infuriating manner by which they fall behind early so often.
The first bucket of the game was a Kyle Lowry 3-ball, but after that, the Raptors reverted to type. Despite being tied part way through Q1, and crawling back to within a deuce in Q2, the Raptors were outclassed. By the time LeBron James and his happy cronies sat down late in Q4, the game had long since been decided. The sole reason the score looks semi-reasonable was the fact our scrubs outplayed theirs late.
This series bids fair to be the kind Raps coach Dwane Casey intensely dislikes; i.e., a high-scoring, last-basket-wins affair. I question whether there’s much he can do about that, other than try to amp the offense and hope for the best.
In this game, the offense wasn’t present when needed. I suspect somewhere on a whiteboard in the Cavaliers’ dressing room are words from coach Tyronn Lue: “Play them loose until they prove they can make shots. DON’T FOUL.” That tactic paid off. DeMar DeRozan can usually count on a number of trips to the charity stripe, but not on this night. He took only 5 free throws.
Game over after 3 quarters
In the game’s first 36 minutes, during which the Cavaliers piled up an unassailable 22-point margin, they got to the line 25 times to the Raptors’ 8. While this might seem a chance to indulge in some zebra-bashing, that’s not on. Yes, King James got the benefit of a couple of 50-50 calls, in particular a block-or-charge on Norman Powell, but our team didn’t lose because of the refs – not even close.
The people we need to make open shots didn’t. DeMar’s jumper was off all night; his baskets came on drives. Patrick Patterson’s open looks provided nothing. Powell’s points came in garbage time. DeMarre Carroll took, and made, one shot all night.
While our shooters were missing, their guys drained 14 of 32 attempts from long range. Compare that to the Raptors’ 8 of 19, and you quickly see the value of a team built on scoring from deep. The percentage of makes is comparable (41.2 to 38.5), but not the number of tries.
Let’s get specific – Patrick Patterson made a fine block at the rim, but knocked the ball directly into the hands of Kyle Korver. He promptly buried a corner 3.
For the sake of our kids…
A quick glance at the final quarter shows some nice work by Fred VanVleet (3 buckets in 3 minutes), and Powell getting 10 of his 12 points. Delon Wright was plus_14.
How do we stop King James?
We don’t, nor does anyone else. This fact must be accepted before any progress can take place. He scored 35 points while appearing to toy with the Raptors several times.
The Raptors can’t win without shotmaking from the supporting cast. DeRozan won’t be able to punish the Cavaliers for double-teaming him unless Lowry, Powell, Patterson et al take advantage of the opportunities created.
Toronto can still take this thing. The Cavaliers’ defense isn’t nearly as aggressive as that of the Milwaukee Bucks.
Game Two is tomorrow night in Cleveland.