A 126-113 loss was obviously not the outcome the Raptors had hoped for in Game 1 of their playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers—especially considering that they only trailed by seven going into halftime—but there are still some positives to take away from the game and reasons for optimism.
Head coach Darko Rajaković for one is thrilled to see his young players get some playoff experience.
“I told them this morning, I was so excited for them and for us,” Rajaković told reporters during a media availability on Sunday. “Right now, I have goosebumps. To have such a young team; Ja’Kobe [Walter] just started shooting two weeks ago. He’s playing in the playoffs now. CMB is a rookie, 20 years old, playing in the playoffs now, playing against a really good veteran team. This is amazing for us. There’s so much to learn.”
Even if this trip to the playoffs doesn’t yield much team success, it will be great for the Raptors’ future. Most players on the roster lack playoff experience, and they especially lack it as a group.
The Raptors’ youngest players did some good things
Three of the Raptors’ top rotational players are in their first or second season. They had their ups and downs in their first playoff outing, but they also did plenty of good things.
Rookie Collin Murray-Boyles quickly proved to be a much more productive frontcourt option than Jakob Poeltl. He outscored the veteran by ten points (14 on 7-8 shooting from the field), grabbed 4 rebounds, and dished out 4 assists in just 20 minutes on the court. If Poeltl doesn’t redeem himself in Game 2, Murray-Boyles may be forced into a much bigger role.
Jamal Shead had to start in place of Immanuel Quickley, who was out with a hamstring issue. Shead surprised everyone when he sank five of his six 3-point attempts on his way to 17 points. It was his most productive scoring game in a while, but he also recorded as many turnovers as assists.
While Shead shot the three uncharacteristically well, Ja’Kobe Walter struggled. He’s usually the Raptors’ most efficient 3-point shooter, but he only made one of his four attempts on Saturday.
Scottie Barnes can also learn a lot from this series
Barnes may not be as young or inexperienced as Murray-Boyles, Walter, and Shead, but he is still only 24 and has little playoff experience. He played four games as a rookie surrounded by veteran stars. Now, he’s one of the best players on the roster.
His performance was very much a mixed bag. Barnes leaned into his responsibility as a top offensive option and led the team with 14 shot attempts on his way to 21 points. He also shot very well from behind the arc, sinking three 3-pointers. At the same time, however, he only grabbed one rebound, turned the ball over five times, and didn’t record any steals or blocks.
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