Fansided

5 reasons the Toronto Raptors can win the NBA Championship

By Phillip Barnett

TORONTO, CANADA - JANUARY 30: The Toronto Raptors celebrate their win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on January 30, 2018 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images)
TORONTO, CANADA - JANUARY 30: The Toronto Raptors celebrate their win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on January 30, 2018 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OH – MARCH 30: LeBron James
CLEVELAND, OH – MARCH 30: LeBron James /

3. The Cleveland Cavaliers look vulnerable

The LeBron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers have found themselves in unfamililiar territory: the team actually looks a bit vulnerable. The sharks are circling, and if not for the sheer existence of James, this is a team that wouldn’t even be in the conversation for a potential conference title.

Right now, the Cavaliers are the No. 4 seed with the NBA’s second-worst defense. James has needed all-world, herculean efforts just to keep the team competitive in recent weeks and spike in performance following the roster overhaul at the trade deadline has come down considerably over the last month.

James is having another MVP-caliber season once again and the Cavs have won their last two meetings against Toronto (by an average of 4.5 points).

Despite Cleveland’s recent success (and history of destroying Toronto in the postseason), the Raptors are still playing some of the best basketball in the NBA right now and philosophical changes to the team’s offense should fare much better over the course of a seven-game series.

James won’t have Irving to lean on and must rely on Love to consistently play to his potential plus the contributions of guys like George Hill, J.R. Smith, Larry Nance, Rodney Hood and Tristan Thompson to play above themselves to beat a thriving Raptors squad.

The Raptors have to feel really good about their chances and will have home-court this year, no matter which round the find themselves matched up against the Cavs.

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