Toronto Raptors Look For Better Result

The Toronto Raptors seek a better result — and effort — tonight in Cleveland ahead of Game 2 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals.

The Toronto Raptors were smothered and, in the end, embarrassed by the Cavaliers 115-84 in Game 1. The result wasn’t even close.

Most people expected the Cavaliers to win the East this season — and for the next few — after LeBron James signed back in Cleveland last summer. But many people, specifically north of the 49th parallel, expected a better showing than a margin of victory of 31 points.

The worst part of this game, to me, was Toronto’s best part of the game. Toronto had a great start: DeMar DeRozan was on fire (six points, three assists) The Raptors led 7-0 in a dream start. They were off and running, driving and kicking, and the shots were falling.

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And then, Cleveland also started driving to the hoop — and Bismack Biyombo couldn’t protect the paint enough with help defence, which Toronto defenders needed too much of (Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams, affectionately, called the Golden State Warriors “little monkeys” for how fast they get out and run and move around… and I’m sure the Raptors felt the same way about Cleveland’s escapability). The result of such driving was not good for Toronto. James had his way converting 11-of-13 shots, many at the rim.

Shots were falling and things looked good. Toronto’s offense was succeeding greatly, as all five starters had scored. At the end of the first quarter, fans had to be pleased at the offense, scoring 28 points.

Their defense? Well, not so much success. Cleveland shot a very high percentage in the first quarter and got way too many easy looks. After falling to a 17-11 start, Cleveland dominated and supplanted the lead 30-28 at the end of the quarter.