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Toronto Raptors: 6 Revelations from Game 1 loss to Cavaliers

By David Morassutti

TORONTO, ON - MAY 01: Jonas Valanciunas #17 of the Toronto Raptors falls to his knees after missing a basket in the second half of Game One of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre on May 1, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - MAY 01: Jonas Valanciunas #17 of the Toronto Raptors falls to his knees after missing a basket in the second half of Game One of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre on May 1, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /
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Toronto Raptors
TORONTO, ON – MAY 01: Jonas Valanciunas #17 of the Toronto Raptors falls to his knees after missing a basket in the second half of Game One of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre on May 1, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /

The Toronto Raptors did themselves no favours, dropping Game 1 to the Cleveland Cavaliers in overtime after letting the game slip in the fourth quarter.

Heartbreak. There is no word that better describes what Toronto Raptors fans are feeling after the Cleveland Cavaliers took Game 1 in overtime 113-112. 

Even with more time to rest than the Cavaliers, the Raptors did not have enough in the tank to defeat the Cavs.

Welcome to the sixth playoff edition of Raptors Revelations. We’re doing 6, because, you know, Toronto… Drake… Raptors… It’s gonna be fun so strap in.

There was a lot to digest after the loss, especially from the fourth quarter on and while DeMar Grant takes care of the revelations, he has allowed me to take over for Game 1.

Here are the revelations from the loss in the series opener, starting with the obvious.

112. 81. Final. 113. 156

1. Fourth Quarter offence non-existent

No kidding! Tyronn Lue is right to point out that Cleveland was not in control of the game until the Raptors’ offence was almost non-existent down the stretch. That performance offensively is one that makes people cringe, because when it mattered most the Raptors could not make the shot they needed to.

No play was a better example of this than the final moments of the fourth quarter, where they were one tip-in away from changing the narrative.

At the same time, it should never have come to that as the Raptors just let the Cavs come right back. Really, it doesn’t matter what type of defensive effort Toronto had, scoring only 18 points in the final quarter is not going to do your team any favours.

The offence slowed down drastically, which made it easier for Cleveland to set up defensively and it didn’t take much for them to shut things down.

Even with his defence, Serge Ibaka, can’t go 3-for-8 from the field, miss shots from deep and have little impact. Maybe OG Anunoby needs to mix in more shots, as he was off to a strong start offensively.

Jakub Poeltl also needs to make more of an impact offensively, as he missed chances in the paint and was fortunate to have some free throws to give him some points.

As Sportsnet‘s Michael Grange reported postgame, the Raptors shot 26 percent in the fourth. That’s not going to cut it and if they want to get back on track, it’s going to have to come from their offence waking up.

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