As reported by ESPN's Doris Burke during Game 1, Raptors coach Dwane Casey does not expect starting center Jonas Valanciunas to be ready to return from injury until next week. In his absence, the Cavaliers scored 56 points in the paint and outrebounded the Raptors 45-23 in Game 1.
Those familiar with Casey know that he is one of the top defensive coaching minds in today's NBA. He was Rick Carlisle's lead defensive assistant when the Mavericks upset the Heat in the 2011 Finals. To turn the tide in that series, he had the Mavs play a 2-3 zone to eliminate the Heat's ball movement.
However, the Cavs are too strong of a three-point shooting team for a 2-3 zone to work effectively. With that said, what will the Raptors try to do in Game 2 to change the flow of the game in their favor?
1) They will slow down the pace.
During the season, the Raptors played the second-slowest pace in the league. They are built to play a half-court offense that picks and chooses when to push the ball in transition. While they only ranked tied for 24th in fastbreak points, they protected the ball well and averaged the fifth fewest turnovers per game. They also ranked fifth in three-point percentage at 37.0%.
For Cleveland, Tyronn Lue has emphasized pushing the tempo for a reason: neither the Raptors nor any other team in the Eastern Conference can keep up with the Cavs when their Big 3--let alone the rest of the team--are pouring in the points. Until Toronto slows down the pace, the Cavs will continue to score inside or outside, as Coach Lue has said that they will take whatever the defense gives them.
2) DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry will drive to the basket and try to draw fouls.
Neither DeRozan nor Lowry got to the free throw line in Game 1. During the regular season, they combined to average 14.8 FTA per game. Heading into Game 1, they were at 12.4 FTA per game in the playoffs.
On the season, they combined for 44.7 PPG. In the playoffs, they were at 38.6 PPG heading into Game 1. In failing to get to the free throw line, they were held to 26 points in Game 1.
Overall, the Raptors were third in the NBA in free throws attempted at 26.7 FTA per game during the regular season. They ranked 12th with a free throw percentage of 77.7%. In Game 1, they went 15/20 at the line (75.0%) after averaging 26.3 FTA per game (74.2%) in the first two rounds of the playoffs.
3) They will give Luis Scola more playing time.
In the previous round, Bismack Biyombo had a great series against the Heat. With Valanciunas out for Toronto and Hassan Whiteside out for Miami, Biyombo outhustled the Heat's backup big men. By the end of the series, the Heat were starting swingman Justise Winslow at center; Biyombo continued to rely on height and high energy to control post play.
Against the Cavs, Biyombo must deal with consistent rebounders Tristan Thompson and Kevin Love, who averaged 18.9 rebounds per game during the regular season and have averaged 19.7 RPG in the playoffs. For good measure, LeBron James has added 8.4 RPG in the playoffs. Likewise, Thompson, Love, and James can all score inside.
Meanwhile, Luis Scola started 76 games during the regular season with 21.5 minutes played per game. In the playoffs, he has only played in six games with 12.5 MPG.
However, in 22 career regular season games against Cleveland, Scola has averaged 10.2 PPG and 6.7 RPG. With Valanciunas out, he is the Raptors' only true post-up threat on offense. Using him will force Love and Thompson to play more defense in the post. Potentially, he could get one of them in foul trouble.
Those familiar with Casey know that he is one of the top defensive coaching minds in today's NBA. He was Rick Carlisle's lead defensive assistant when the Mavericks upset the Heat in the 2011 Finals. To turn the tide in that series, he had the Mavs play a 2-3 zone to eliminate the Heat's ball movement.
However, the Cavs are too strong of a three-point shooting team for a 2-3 zone to work effectively. With that said, what will the Raptors try to do in Game 2 to change the flow of the game in their favor?
1) They will slow down the pace.
During the season, the Raptors played the second-slowest pace in the league. They are built to play a half-court offense that picks and chooses when to push the ball in transition. While they only ranked tied for 24th in fastbreak points, they protected the ball well and averaged the fifth fewest turnovers per game. They also ranked fifth in three-point percentage at 37.0%.
For Cleveland, Tyronn Lue has emphasized pushing the tempo for a reason: neither the Raptors nor any other team in the Eastern Conference can keep up with the Cavs when their Big 3--let alone the rest of the team--are pouring in the points. Until Toronto slows down the pace, the Cavs will continue to score inside or outside, as Coach Lue has said that they will take whatever the defense gives them.
2) DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry will drive to the basket and try to draw fouls.
Neither DeRozan nor Lowry got to the free throw line in Game 1. During the regular season, they combined to average 14.8 FTA per game. Heading into Game 1, they were at 12.4 FTA per game in the playoffs.
On the season, they combined for 44.7 PPG. In the playoffs, they were at 38.6 PPG heading into Game 1. In failing to get to the free throw line, they were held to 26 points in Game 1.
Overall, the Raptors were third in the NBA in free throws attempted at 26.7 FTA per game during the regular season. They ranked 12th with a free throw percentage of 77.7%. In Game 1, they went 15/20 at the line (75.0%) after averaging 26.3 FTA per game (74.2%) in the first two rounds of the playoffs.
3) They will give Luis Scola more playing time.
In the previous round, Bismack Biyombo had a great series against the Heat. With Valanciunas out for Toronto and Hassan Whiteside out for Miami, Biyombo outhustled the Heat's backup big men. By the end of the series, the Heat were starting swingman Justise Winslow at center; Biyombo continued to rely on height and high energy to control post play.
Against the Cavs, Biyombo must deal with consistent rebounders Tristan Thompson and Kevin Love, who averaged 18.9 rebounds per game during the regular season and have averaged 19.7 RPG in the playoffs. For good measure, LeBron James has added 8.4 RPG in the playoffs. Likewise, Thompson, Love, and James can all score inside.
Meanwhile, Luis Scola started 76 games during the regular season with 21.5 minutes played per game. In the playoffs, he has only played in six games with 12.5 MPG.
However, in 22 career regular season games against Cleveland, Scola has averaged 10.2 PPG and 6.7 RPG. With Valanciunas out, he is the Raptors' only true post-up threat on offense. Using him will force Love and Thompson to play more defense in the post. Potentially, he could get one of them in foul trouble.