NBA Playoffs 2017: 5 keys to Cavaliers vs. Raptors matchup
By Connor Learn
1. Cleveland’s defense needs to progress
As a general rule, most teams need to have a top ten offense and a top ten defense to be considered a powerhouse championship contention. Very few offensive juggernauts that can’t play good defense win four series in the playoffs, vice versa for defensive juggernauts. And while the Cavaliers were not a top defensive team when they won it all last year, they flirted with a top ten ranking and tightened up efforts in the playoffs. They proved that they had a team capable of playing good defense last year, while this year’s Cavs have not.
Cleveland finished this season ranked 22nd in the league in defensive rating. They slid from the middle of the league after playing porous defense post-All-Star break. And while the Cavaliers were able to sweep Indiana in the first round, they hemorrhaged points to an average offense In addition, they won their four games by a combined 12 points. This year’s Cavaliers team hasn’t shown that they can play championship-level defense yet this postseason.
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If Cleveland’s defense doesn’t improve in round two, Toronto could easily upset them. Even if they get enough out of that end, the goal for them isn’t the Eastern Conference Finals and they should seek to play the championship defense that they discovered last May. LeBron James and Kyrie Irving should be ready to up their effort on that end, but a lack of a solid rim presence and defensive point guard isn’t going to be resolved. The Cavaliers defensive efforts will determine not only this series, but every series they could potentially play afterwards.