Don’t blame Raptors D for embarrassing loss to Cavaliers

TORONTO, ON - MAY 01: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers and OG Anunoby #3 of the Toronto Raptors in the second half of Game One of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre on May 1, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - MAY 01: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers and OG Anunoby #3 of the Toronto Raptors in the second half of Game One of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre on May 1, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)

The Raptors were in charge of Tuesday’s game all the way, until the dying seconds of regulation. The defense on LeBron James worked well, the offense…not so much.

The Toronto Raptors had countless opportunities to wrap up Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semi-finals series, but couldn’t get it done. While supernova LeBron James piled up remarkable numbers, his offensive efforts weren’t the reason for the Raptors first losing the lead, then the game.

TORONTO, ON – MAY 01: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Pascal Siakam #43 of the Toronto Raptors come together in the second half of Game One of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre on May 1, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – MAY 01: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Pascal Siakam #43 of the Toronto Raptors come together in the second half of Game One of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre on May 1, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – MAY 01: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Pascal Siakam #43 of the Toronto Raptors come together in the second half of Game One of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre on May 1, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – MAY 01: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Pascal Siakam #43 of the Toronto Raptors come together in the second half of Game One of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre on May 1, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)

Rookie small forward OG Anunoby was assigned the Herculean task of bothering (you can’t stop him, you can only slow him down) King James, with feisty support from Pascal Siakam. Both our men performed well. Watching LeBron reminded me of Vince Carter during the woeful coaching year of Kevin O’Neill. That 2003-04 season saw Vince pound the ball into the floor for about 15 seconds each possession, then launch a shot or drive. Result: 33-49, and the quick expiry of O’Neill’s NBA career.

Hoops in slow motion

Returning to the present case, LeBron received the ball on the wing time and again, then held it, jab-stepping and head-faking to little avail. He’s a better player than Vince, and was able to create offense despite the stagnation. He took a number of fadeaway jumpers, which are as unstoppable as a Kareem skyhook. All you can do is hope he misses. Our kids didn’t foul him much on those attempts, which impressed me.

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LeBron has been largely stationary on offense, while his mates are dashing about setting picks, or receiving them. King James doesn’t have to tire himself unduly in this scenario, and indeed he looked fresh at game’s end.

The Raptors lost this game because they were beaten 14 to 9 in long balls. LeBron made one of those, but dished 13 assists. Many of those were to Kyle Korver and J.R. Smith, top-flight shooters who split 10 3-balls.

How did that one slip away?

I doubt Cleveland has much else to offer – yet we still lost, a fact I’m struggling to process. The only conclusion I can offer is an inexplicable collapse of Raptors shooting. Jonas Valanciunas couldn’t find the bottom of the basket, despite a ridiculous number of too-hasty putback attempts. Toronto’s wingmen also went dry.

The play drawn up for Fred VanVleet at overtime’s end was excellent; he’ll never get a better look. I was particularly pleased to see someone other than DeRozan or Lowry receiving the honour of the final shot. It clanked out. Fred probably couldn’t sleep on Tuesday night.

He wasn’t the only one.

It’s stake in the ground time: the Raptors have a feasible defensive scheme, and the people who can make it work. The series is just getting started. If Toronto’s offense clicks in crunch time, we’ll  take this thing.