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Toronto Raptors: 6 revelations from Game 2 loss to Cavaliers

By Demar Grant

TORONTO, ON - MAY 03: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers goes up for a shot in the second half of Game Two of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Toronto Raptors during the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre on May 3, 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 03: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers goes up for a shot in the second half of Game Two of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Toronto Raptors during the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre on May 3, 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: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers shoots the ball as Jonas Valanciunas #17 of the Toronto Raptors defends in the second half of Game One of the Eastern Conference Semifinals 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) /

1. LeBron James is a basketball deity

James is a basketball deity. Much Like the greats before him (Michael Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson) he encompasses the game completely with very minute flaws in their games. James has eliminated all of his flaws, there is no stopping him; you can only hope to contain him and the Raptors still failed.

James detonated for 43/8/14 on a tidy 67.9 percent from the field, and the majority of his work was from the midrange.

In Game 1, the Raptors got away with single coverage in the post on James. His point total was nice, but his efficiency was horrendous. OG Anunoby looked good, Pascal Siakam looked decent.

Thursday night, he cooked anyone in front (or behind) him. Inexplicably, Anunoby or Siakam weren’t on James throughout the entire game. C.J. Miles got roasted some, so did Serge Ibaka for a quick minute and DeMar DeRozan got toasted for a possession or two.

Single coverage was an admirable choice for the first two games, but it isn’t working. Doubling definitely doesn’t work, as it gives James a chance to surgically remove the Raptors’ heart from their chest.

But then again James had 14 assists anyway, with single coverage. The Raptors switched constantly during off-ball movement, plus he feasted on his primary defender.

The King devastated the Pacers last series with back-to-back-to-back 40+ point games, but they still nearly pulled off the upset. James scoring 40 isn’t the issue, it’s everyone around him.

Kevin Love went off for 31 points and Jeff Green drained four 3s. LeBron will always get his, but the others don’t need to.

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