Cavaliers 128 – Raptors 93: Not even close

Cleveland Cavaliers LeBron James and Toronto Raptors OG Anunoby - (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
Cleveland Cavaliers LeBron James and Toronto Raptors OG Anunoby - (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

The Raptors playoff run ended in a dreadful defeat in Cleveland. The Cavaliers swept Toronto for the second straight year, as LeBron James dominated once more.

A post-season run which appeared so full of promise 10 days ago has crashed and burned. The Toronto Raptors collapsed part-way through the second quarter of last night’s Game 4 in Cleveland, and the Cavaliers ran away and hid. Their abuse of the visitors continued in Q3, leading to a G League-grade final 12 minutes.

LeBron James didn’t need nearly the playing time or drama called for in Games 1 and 3. He dominated the Raptors once again, pouring in 29 points and dishing out 11 dimes. Kevin Love, who has re-established his superstar credentials, was again his wingman with 23.

CLEVELAND, OH – MAY 7: Jonas Valanciunas of the Toronto Raptors drives around LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first half of Game 4 of the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena on May 7, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – MAY 7: Jonas Valanciunas of the Toronto Raptors drives around LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first half of Game 4 of the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena on May 7, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images)

The Raptors needed big games from their All-Star backcourt if they were going to have any choice of returning to Toronto for Game 5. Instead, Kyle Lowry’s shot deserted him, while DeMar DeRozan wasn’t getting open enough to make a difference. They totalled 18 points, although Kyle did have 10 assists. Our team’s leaders disappearance at the most important stage of the post-season does not augur well for their future as Raptors.

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Jonas Valanciunas took advantage of the Cavaliers’ willingness to surrender the paint to score 18 points in less than 16 minutes. He didn’t start the game, as coach Dwane Casey elected to go small with Serge Ibaka at center, with C.J. Miles as the small forward. Why JV didn’t remain on the floor despite helping to bring the Raptors back into a brief tie in Q2 is a question for Casey. When he left, Toronto was down three; at intermission, they were down 16.

Second verse – same as the first

The onslaught continued in Q3. DeMar’s season ended on a Flagrant-2 foul assigned when he whacked Jordan Clarkson on the head in a futile attempt to defend a breakaway layup. By then, the margin was 28. The Cavaliers were racking up easy baskets on backcuts, open corner-3s, and LeBron post-ups. They shot almost 60% for the game. High-percentage gunners Kyle Korver and J.R. Smith feasted, as they did all series, going seven for eight from deep.

There’s little point mentioning Q4, as both sides gave their bench players some run.

For the Raptors, there’s nothing positive to be taken from this defeat. They were thoroughly humiliated in a deciding game. Cedi Osman outscored Kyle Lowry. DeRozan’s plus-minus in Cleveland: minus_52.

Team President Masai Ujiri famously called for a “culture reset” following last season’s Cleveland sweep of the Raptors. More than the culture needs to be reset this off-season. When the team’s allegedly best two players switch from Superman to Clark Kent in the playoffs, something major has to change.