5 reasons we won’t get a Cavaliers-Warriors Finals rematch
By Chris Stone
4. The Raptors are finally a legitimate threat to make the NBA Finals
Toronto will be the most likely second round opponent for the Cavaliers, which should invoke some cause for concern in Cleveland despite recent playoff success against the franchise. Following an offensive renaissance, the Raptors have morphed into a legitimate finals contender.
Once a roster on the verge of a breakup, Toronto now boasts the league’s second best point differential with an equal offense to the Cavaliers and a stouter defense, per Cleaning the Glass.
Head coach Dwane Casey has finally instituted an offense with a more modern shot selection. The Raptors now generate 34.8 percent of their field goal attempts from behind the 3-point arc and 35.4 percent of them at the rim. Those rates are up from 26.4 and 32.7 last season, respectively. The result is a more efficient shooting attack. Toronto’s 54.2 effective field goal percentage ranks fifth in the league. The Raptors were about league average last year.
The team’s overall success is buttressed by one of the league’s most outstanding bench units. It’s five man all bench lineup, led by Fred VanVleet, has a ridiculous +16.1 net rating in nearly 600 possessions this season, per Cleaning the Glass. There are reasons to question how much that lineup will feature in the playoffs, but it’s nearly impossible to conclude Toronto’s depth will be a negative in the sport’s final weeks.
While the Cavaliers won the season series 2-1, the Raptors’ lengthy resume of success in 2017-18 is enough to suggest they could throw a wrench in plans for a finals rematch.