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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 07: Fred VanVleet #23 of the Toronto Raptors dribbles the ball as Tristan Thompson #13 of the Cleveland Cavaliers defends in the second half of Game Four of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre on May 7, 2017 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) /

3. Ball in the wrong hands

At any other point in the season, Fred VanVleet would be an ideal choice to hit a game-winning shot, but Game 1 was not his night. He had a chance twice to seal the deal for the Raptors and both times, the ball just wouldn’t drop.

Going 1-for-5 from three does not inspire a lot of confidence that VanVleet was going to snap out of his slump at the most crucial time. That should have gone to either Kyle Lowry or C.J. Miles, who were much more efficient from long range.

Granted, the play was to get DeMar DeRozan to pull the defence in, which allowed VanVleet to be open for the shot.

For the amount of criticism DeRozan has received for trying to play hero far too often, this is a moment where you have to let your star take the shot. He was shooting 50 percent from the field but an abysmal 0-for-4 from three, yet decided that it was better to pass it off to a player dealing with a shoulder injury.

It is tough to argue with letting DeRozan or Lowry get the job done, rather than put it all on VanVleet. Now if he makes either shot, the debate changes drastically but unfortunately, that’s not how the script ended.

Hopefully, a scenario like that does not happen in Game 2, but maybe this was the type of loss the team needed to be better equipped to handle the situation.

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