The Raptors hung in there for 36 minutes against the nasty Cavaliers. However, Toronto’s poor shooting from deep finally caught up to them, as the Cavs pulled away.
The Toronto Raptors needed Kyle Lowry to turn around their series with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He’s been their only reliable shooter from beyond the arc, but he couldn’t play due to an ankle injury. No one else stepped up, and the Cavaliers used a huge Q4 to roll over our guys for a 3-0 series lead.
DeMar DeRozan, so dreadful in Game 2, rediscovered his shooting touch. He enjoyed a wonderful game after a stinker in the Milwaukee series, and demonstrated his resilience once again in this one. Frequently using a straight-line dribble drive to split defenders and attack the paint, he torched Cleveland for 37 points. If someone, anyone, had shown up to help, we could have had a game.
Sample data point: DD took and made 13 free throws. Every other Raptor: 4 trips, all by Jonas Valanciunas.
Toronto was leading by 3 at halftime. However, the portents were not positive. The modern NBA is merciless on poor 3-point shooting squads, a statement which can be written in CAPS in the playoffs, where every team is strong. The Raptors had to work like beasts of burden to slip in front, despite being donut for 13 from beyond the arc.
Call for a gunner
When Cleveland’s coach Tyronn Lue saw his team unable to pull away playing half-court offense, he inserted Kyle Korver. This fellow has built a lengthy career on one skill, that being distance shooting, and he displayed his talent quickly. Korver hit more 3s in 21+ minutes of play than the Raptors did the entire game (4 to 3 – for 18).
Meanwhile, coach Dwane Casey seemed to enter a fugue state when the Raptors offense turned frosty early in the decisive final 12 minutes. Valanciunas had provided some excellent offense early, and was rewarded for his contribution by a benching. The Raptors were outscored 20-3, after which Casey rejoined our planet and JV was re-inserted. The margin was 19, with less than 6 minutes to play – what exactly was he going to achieve?
Meanwhile, LeBron James was doing his best to make life miserable for the home team, and his best is pretty good. He poured in 35, his third straight 30+ point effort against the Raps. King James displayed his typical flawless knowledge of when to shoot and when to pass, dishing out 7 assists. He made a couple of left-handed shots from 10 feet – the guy is unfair.
Where’s our strong bench gone?
Cory Joseph was inserted as the starting point guard in Lowry’s absence (well, OK, he dressed but never checked in). While I thought CoJo’s passing and ball-handling were exemplary, and his defense was energetic, he, like every Raptor except DD and JV, couldn’t make shots.
The Raptors got beaten on the boards frequently by the undersized Tristan Thompson. He is a player who needs strong teammates to create shots on which he can clean up misses. Between him and Kevin Love, the Cavaliers owned the glass. Toronto had one offensive rebound all game.
Meanwhile veterans Patrick Patterson and DeMarre Carroll couldn’t muster a single point between them. P.J. Tucker provided some spark, but beating a immensely strong team like the Cavaliers needs everyone contributing. The Raptors haven’t had an all-hands-on-deck game yet, and are running out of time. Their season could end on Sunday.
More from Raptors Rapture
- Scottie Barnes talks Raptors expectations after bumpy 2022-23
- Raptors’ Dennis Schroder completes Cinderella story, wins FIBA World Cup with Germany
- 3 players Raptors could replace OG Anunoby with at trade deadline
- NBA insider praises Raptors’ hiring of “star” Darko Rajakovic
- Raptors fans will love Markquis Nowell’s insane confidence on Instagram