East Finals: Checking on Toronto After Game 1

After the Cleveland Cavaliers took care of the Toronto Raptors in Game 1 of the East Finals, we check back in with Raptors Rapture.

Before the series started we went Behind Enemy Lines with Raptors Rapture but wanted to follow up with them after Game 1 that didn’t exactly go their way.

Here are some thoughts from their editor:

1. How has the Raptors fan base responded to Game 1?

Some fans are already in the slough of despair, in the belief that this series will degenerate into an embarrassment. Some are muttering “When will Valanciunas be back? We’d have a chance then.” but the news isn’t good. I’d be surprised to see him in Game 4.
Other fans are more sanguine, pointing out that the Raptors lost both Game Ones in the earlier series yet bounced back to win. Not liking to rain on anyone’s parade, I refrain from mentioning that Cleveland is on a different level than Indiana or Miami.

2. Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan had spurts of greatness but struggled, what do you attribute that to?

Lowry’s shooting has been wildly inconsistent throughout the playoffs. When he’s off, the pressure increases dramatically on DeRozan, and he’s not one to need any encouragement to put up a shot. When they are both missing, the Raptors are borderline unwatchable. While DeMarre Carroll has been respectable, I think he’s still favouring his repaired knee. DeRozan still has a sore thumb on his shooting hand, and Lowry’s right elbow has been wrong for months.

3. What adjustment do you think the Raptors make on defense in Game 2?

I suspect we’ll see more sagging into the paint. The Raptors gave up way too many easy buckets near the hoop. Perhaps they were overly concerned about the 3-ball, or it was just a bad night.
LeBron may have to contend with James Johnson, who’s an MMA fighter masquerading as a basketball player.

4. Toronto seemed extra physical in the game. Would you agree or was that normal throughout the season?

No, the Raptors are not a particularly physical team. They tend to walk away from confrontations. I don’t think coach Dwane Casey likes the kind of alpha-male strutting we see too often in the NBA.

5. You predicted a Toronto series win, 4 – 2. Did Game 1 change your prediction in any way?

More from King James Gospel

Between us girls, my 4-2 prediction was not entirely rational. I know that man for man the Cavaliers are stronger, particularly when they are healthy and rested while the Raptors are neither. But as they say in England “In for a penny, in for a pound”. I’m not bailing now. The Raptors have been a pleasant surprise since this season tipped off (I predicted 46 wins – they hit 56), and perhaps they have some more magic to roll out.

We will check back in with RR to see how they are feeling after each game. If this series goes the way the Pistons and Hawks series went, they may not want to talk to us anymore.

How do you think the Raptors will respond in Game 2 of the East FInals?