The Raptors’ performances in the first two games of their playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers didn’t inspire much confidence in their ability to pull off the upset and advance. That looks much different after two home wins that evened out the playing field before sending the series back to Cleveland for Game 5.
The Raptors played better defense than in the first two games, forced turnovers, scored more fastbreak points, and made their presence felt in the paint. They battled, even when they only shot 32% from the field in Game 4 and continued to make winning plays, like when Scottie Barnes picked up Donovan Mitchell full court late in the fourth quarter and Jamal Shead forced an eight-second violation by diving onto the floor and causing the Cavs’ star to lose his handle.
Shead attributed the team’s turnaround to a comment head coach Darko Rajaković made after Game 2.
“Our effort was just 110 times better,” Shead said in a practice media availability on April 28. “Coach made a comment after Game 2 and was just like, ‘You guys came in here and none of y’all are tired. Everybody’s getting dressed, getting to the shower really quick. None of you guys are tired and barely wanting to move. We should feel like that after every game.”
Playing hard, running the floor, and being physical on defense is the Raptors’ identity, it’s what allows them to win games, and playing to those strengths made all the difference.
The Raptors might have to put in even more effort in Game 5
The Cavs have not found as much playoff success as they should have with their core of Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen, and Evan Mobley. Even before coming to Cleveland, Mitchell never led a team to the conference finals, and James Harden lost in the first round twice in a row with the Clippers. Losing this series would be much worse for the Cavs—especially after they traded Darius Garland for a much older player—than for a young Raptors team still figuring out how to best build a great team.
They will be desperate to win Game 5 and improve their chances of winning the series after a blowout loss in Game 3 and a squandered lead in Game 4. They should play as hard as possible from the very beginning, so the Raptors need to be prepared to play with the necessary intensity as well.
Playing on the road in front of the Cavs’ crowd only makes the situation more difficult for the Raptors. They have yet to prove that they can win on the road in the playoffs, and there’s no better time to do it than in a crucial Game 5.
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