NBA Playoffs 2017: 5 keys to Cavaliers vs. Raptors matchup
By Connor Learn
The Cavaliers and Raptors will again meet in the NBA playoffs. The two teams played in the Eastern Conference Finals last season and the Cavaliers won in six games. Here are five keys to the rematch
The second-seeded Cavaliers finished the season with a 51-21 record. It was maybe not the record that the group may have been capable of, but regular season accomplishments mean little to the defending champions at this point. The third-seeded Raptors also had a 51-21 record, but were a lower seed due to their conference record. That gives Cleveland Game 7 at home if this series was to come to it.
This matchup features two teams that have come together to win now. LeBron James. Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love were All-Stars this year for Cleveland, and they are hard to defeat because of their talents. Toronto has two All-Stars of their own in Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan, who are each at the apex of their abilities. The additions of veterans Serge Ibaka and P.J. Tucker at the trade deadline makes the Raptors look as deadly as ever.
This should be an interesting series in any event. The Raptors may have the best chance of anyone in the East to beat Cleveland head to head, and they will make their opponent fight hard to beat them. There are a few keys that will help decide the winner in this series, and here’s a look at the biggest ones:
5. Kyle Lowry needs to exploit Kyrie Irving’s defense
Toronto has had its undoings in previous playoffs. There is regular season Kyle Lowry, and then there is playoff Kyle Lowry. The differences between them have been well documented, but the gist is this: playoff Lowry hasn’t been good. The Raptors obviously need him to play up to his usual All-Star level play in this series. Playoff Lowry needs to become a thing of the past.
Lowry will likely draw Kyrie Irving on him, which is a plus for the Raptors. Despite his scoring prowess, Irving is a poor defender. Some of the issue is effort related, which lessens in a tight playoff series. But still, Irving has been caught flat on his feet more than he should and isn’t dialed in so far these playoffs. He doesn’t have the tools to be much more than average defender, and he falls below that benchmark when his intensity isn’t high on the defensive end.
This is a matchup that Lowry needs to win. Matthew Dellevedova drew Lowry some last season during the Conference Finals, but it’s not a luxury that the Cavaliers have this season. Lowry has proven himself time and time again to be one of the game’s better guards, but will now have to do so on a larger stage.