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Game 1 goes to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavs opened up their series against the Toronto Raptors with a 126-113 victory, outpacing their opponents. The Cavs and Raptors both shot well to start the series, with the Raptors hitting 52% of their shots from the floor, 48% from three, and 74% from the free-throw line. The Cavs shot just a bit better, hitting 54% of their shtos from the floor, 50% of their shots from three and 79% of their shtos from the free-throw line.
The shots were falling all night, with neither team playing especially well on defense. Especially the Cavaliers, who despite having Dean Wade, Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley playing considerable minutes, couldn't register one block. The Raptors, who have a less impressive front court defensively, had three. The Cavs did fine ways to contribute on the other end of the court, posting nine steals to just three. A stat-line that was likely the deciding factor in Game 1. The Cavaliers couldn't deter the Raptors offense at all.
If it wasn't for the fact that guys like Donovan Mitchell and Max Strus were hitting as many shots as they were (55% and 80% from the floor respectively), the Cavs likely don't outlast the Raptors. Those two men specifically combined for 56 points, and helped keep the Cavaliers ahead as the final minutes wained down.
It's a storng offensive outing, but it's a sign that the Cavaliers need to be more aggressive on the defensive end. You can't always rely on the Raptors flubbing as much as they did, posting a whopping 17 turnovers. Sure, the Cavs had 15, but the Raptors inability to hold onto the ball certainly helped Cleveland build a 97-76 lead to start the fourth quarter. If the Raptors protect the ball more, this game may not have been what it was.
The Raptors shooting as well as they did should on Saturday shoudl warry the Cavaliers for Game 2. Toronto are no pushovers and they can easily bounce back to win Game 2. The Cavaliers have got to disrupt the shot attempts of the Raptors more effectively. It's not enough to force turnovers, you have to disrupt the flow of the offense as well. If they don't, and the Cavs have an off night shooting, then the Raptors could easily tie the series up, if not take it over completely down the line.
They can't expect Strus and Mitchell to hit a combined 63% of their shtos every game to win this series. Mobley and Allen have to be more aggressive downlow, while guys like Wade and Keon Ellis have got to hunt down shooters a bit better. They're all good defenders and this game isn't an indication that they aren't but the Raptors are too good offensively to hope to just win the series by out-shooting them.
A more aggressive defense may be needed to really silence the Raptors offense, because hitting 50% of your shots is just not acceptable, and usually results in losses for your club.
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