10 things I saw from Raptors-Cavaliers (Game 1)
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3 min readMay 2, 2017
- It’s not that they lost … since the Raptors always start slow and lose Game 1. Toronto fell into an early 18-point deficit and spent the rest of the night trying to catch up. The bench lineup did their best, but Cleveland always had an answer.
- It’s how they lost … The Cavs treated this like an open scrimmage. It was disrespect of the highest order. LeBron James started the game calling for an off-the-window alley-oop before he crossed halfcourt, then grabbed a beer from a courtside attendant in the third quarter. Cleveland didn’t play any defense and it didn’t matter. They spent the entire evening trying to make highlights for Sportscenter.
- Unguardable: Every shot for the Cavs was either a layup or an open jumper. There is absolutely no solution for LeBron and shooters, unless you can switch every action and somehow still contain their 1-on-1 players. The Raptors tried to scramble but the Cavs were also just so damn good with their passing.
- Old lineup, old problems: Raptors went back to their original starting lineup which predictably produced yet another slow start. They simply cannot keep doing this. It drains all their energy trying to make a comeback then they have nothing left in the tank to protect a lead. It’s sad watching this team continuously lose in the first quarter.
- Serious question: What role does Jonas Valanciunas have in this series? What are the Raptors counting on him to do? He cannot defend in space and the Cavs target him relentlessly, he cannot run in transition, his rebounding advantage doesn’t exist because the Cavs are always getting open shots, he also can’t score on Tristan Thompson in the post, and he was poor in short roll situation. I’m not sure Jonas has any role in this series, and yet he’s starting? Mans a discount Enes Kanter right now.
- Cavs strategy: They’re doubling Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan and living with anyone else who can hurt them. They weren’t quite as aggressive as the Bucks were, but Lowry and DeRozan did consistently see double teams when they came off the high screen. This is how every team plays the Raptors.
- Supporting cast: If Lowry and DeRozan are going to get blitzed, then they need other players to make shots. Serge Ibaka and PJ Tucker were good, Norman Powell was fine, but Jonas and Patrick Patterson were horrendous. Jonas couldn’t find his positioning in short roll situations leading to turnovers, while Patterson bricked his usual assortment of wide open threes.
- Is there hope? Look the Raptors were always massive underdogs against the Cavs. They have zero margin for error whatsoever. They can’t start such a shitty lineup, they can’t fall behind early so quick, they need to be smarter on defense, they need their supporting pieces to make open shots and quite honestly they need the Cavs to miss.
- But honestly? The Cavs have like 2–3 more gears above this level. They didn’t even play defense, nor did LeBron care to fully dominate this game. This series is shaping up similar to last year: maybe the Raptors can steal a few games before the Cavs take them seriously and close them out. At least that’s how it feels for me.
- Fuck Dahntay Jones.
