Toronto Raptors: 3 keys to W over Cleveland Cavaliers

The Toronto Raptors take on the Cleveland Cavaliers, a team considerably removed from their status as 4-time NBA finalists. Can the Raptors keep their 7-game win streak alive?

The Toronto Raptors are visiting Cleveland tonight, for their second of four meetings this season against the Cavaliers. Our guys defeated Cleveland on opening night, and since then the Raptors have continued to win, and the Cavaliers…haven’t. They are 4-17, tied with the Phoenix Suns for the NBA’s fewest victories.

Cleveland hasn’t officially decided to tank the season, but you can’t say those words anyway, or the Commissioner will get nasty. You can certainly act that way, and management has already taken steps. The coach, Tyronn Lue, was canned after six winless games to start, and Kyle Korver was recently traded to Utah for shooting guard Alec Burks. J.R. Smith is in limbo; the ageing gunner is not with the team while they attempt to trade him. Good luck with that – they will need it.

Kevin Love, their most expensive player by far, is out till God-knows-when with a toe injury. Veteran point guard George Hill may dress. He’s been sidelined for weeks.

Without Love, Cleveland’s highest scorer is their sixth man, Jordan Clarkson.

Meanwhile, lottery pick Colin Sexton has been pressed into service at the point. He’s making all the mistakes you’d expect from a rookie; his most glaring problem is an assist to turnover ratio of 1.1:1. Rodney Hood has been given yet another opportunity to seize the starting job at the 2-guard, but I suspect Burks will push him aside. The newcomer played more minutes in his first Cavaliers game (a thumping by the Celtics) than the incumbent.

The Cavaliers have managed the unenviable task of being last in the NBA in 3-pointers taken and made. To the surprise of no one anywhere, they are last in points scored. Their offense, such as it is, needs offensive rebounds to thrive. Tristan Thompson is tied for second with 5 per game.

3 keys to Raptors victory

1. Limit turnovers. If the Cavaliers are forced to play a lot of half-court hoops, Toronto will win this game by double digits. However, anyone can score on a fast break created by a sloppy pass.
2. One and done defense. The other way to stifle their scoring is by limiting their second-chance opportunities. Everybody has to rebound. There won’t be a lot of funky long boards to run down; most of their shots are inside the arc. If you can’t box out, sit down.
3. Don’t “mail it in”. I like to deal with tactics, not psychology, when I write my 3 keys. However, I’ll break my own rule to remind the Raptors to play this game, not the next one. Stay in the moment. The Cavaliers aren’t hopeless; they recently defeated the 76ers in Philadelphia. There are a lot of proud veterans on Cleveland’s roster who would like nothing more than to knock off the league’s best team.

Prediction

I can’t think of any reason why the Raptors shouldn’t roll tonight.

Toronto Raptors 126 – Cleveland Cavaliers 98