If the playoffs started today, the Raptors would have to face the Cavs. That has been a great matchup for the Raptors this season. They won all three of their games against Cleveland—a much more successful record than their series against other playoff teams in the East.
So, on, paper, facing the Cavs in the playoffs would be a dream come true, especially considering how productive Scottie Barnes has been against their frontcourt. But, unfortunately, things aren’t quite that simple. After a blockbuster trade that sent Darius Garland to the Clippers in exchange for James Harden, the Cavs look rather different, and the Raptors haven’t faced that version of the team yet. The Cavs’ roster shakeup poses one all-important question for the Raptors: Is Cleveland still a good first-round matchup with Harden in the mix?
Unfortunately, the Raptors won’t get the answer to that question until it may be too late. They have no games left against the Cavs in the regular season, so, if the two teams meet again, it will be in the playoffs.
The Raptors have beaten the Cavs more than any other top team in the East
The Raptors have struggled to beat some of the top teams in the league so far this season. The top of the Eastern Conference is no exception. They beat Orlando once, but only accumulated losses against the Pistons, Celtics, and Knicks.
Cleveland is the only team in the top six that the Raptors have beaten consistently—although rarely at full force.
When the two teams first met in October, the Cavs were without Mitchell and Allen. Mobley and De’Andre Hunter filled up the stat sheet, but it wasn’t enough to hold off the Raptors and their evenly distributed scoring. Brandon Ingram, RJ Barrett, and Jamison Battle all scored 20 points, and Scottie Barnes added 14 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block.
Mitchell scored 31 points in the second meeting, but the Raptors still got the 126-113 win behind very productive games from Barnes and Immanuel Quickley.
The Cavs were without Allen in the third game and struggled to contain Ingram, who exploded for a 37-point performance, and another double-double from Barnes.
The Cavs have only lost two games since adding Harden
Cleveland found immediate success with Harden in the lineup—and not just against struggling teams like the Nets and Wizards. They beat the Nuggets, Knicks, and Pistons; two of the top-three teams in the East and a Western Conference playoff team.
The Cavs’ only two losses with Harden came against the Thunder and Celtics.
Over his long career, Harden has attained a reputation for disappointing playoff performances. Whether he can change that in a Cavs uniform still remains to be seen.