This year was supposed to be different. This was the year that the Toronto Raptors were going to overcome the nemesis that was the Cleveland Cavaliers. After having their hopes to play for an NBA championship crushed the past two years, this year was supposed to be different.
With an offseason devoted to giving more help to the teams’ two stars DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry by improving the bench depth and focusing on more movement in the offseason, the Raptors set out to execute a plan to dethrone the Cavaliers as the Eastern Conferences elite.
Their improved roster and improved shot range led to the best record in the east and seemed to provide the tools necessary to beat the Cavs, who also seemed ripe for the picking. Cleveland has been through an unforeseen amount of changes to their personnel this year, undergoing a roster transformation that includes the exodus of their all-star and former number one draft pick, Kyrie Irving.
However, one constant has not changed: LeBron James. James, having logged an average of 43 minutes per game through round one of the playoffs against the Indiana Pacers, while also narrowly closing out the series in 7 games, entered into the series against Toronto with one day of rest while the Raptors waited after closing out their first-round series with the Washington Wizards in 6 games. LeBron was a one man wrecking machine against the Pacers, with no other Cavalier scoring over 20 points during the series.
Initially seeming to be in the Raptors favor, it has now become the narrative for their horrendous start to the series.
In game one, they dominated the first quarter by pushing the pace and getting easy buckets in transition.
By the end of the half, their first quarter double-digit lead vanished, as they allowed the Cavs to slow the tempo, ultimately losing the game due to missed opportunities, missed shots in regulation, and poor decision making by key players.
In game two, the Cavaliers’ role players awoke along with LeBron James torching them for 43 points, 15 of which came in the 3rd quarter. Kevin Love posted his best game in 9 playoff games this year, scoring 31 points as Cleveland has taken a 2-0 lead in the series, which shifts to Cleveland Saturday. Cleveland has wrestled home court advantage from the Raptors and the demons that have haunted this team over the past two years once again are haunting them again.
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