Raptors believe they’re better equipped to handle Cavaliers
P.J. Tucker watched Toronto’s historic Eastern Conference final series against Cleveland last season, and the scrappy then-Phoenix Suns small forward thought about how much he could help the Raptors.
A year later, Tucker will get a chance to.
The Raptors open the Eastern Conference semis on Monday against the Cavaliers, and they believe they’re a better team against their familiar foe after acquiring Tucker and Serge Ibaka at February’s trade deadline.
“It’s big,” said DeMar DeRozan, on having Tucker. “He is known for his defence. He is one of the best on-the-ball defenders. Strength-wise he is up there with LeBron, being able to bang him up, put a strong body on him after DeMarre (Carroll) starts out on him. So it’s great to be able to go our bench and have a guy like P.J. Tucker. . . pretty sure we are going to use that weapon.”
The Raptors took the Cavaliers to six games in the team’s first-ever conference final appearance last season. Then team president Masai Ujiri made a big defensive upgrade when he traded for Tucker and Ibaka.
Coach Dwane Casey said the team is now much better equipped to handle the Cavs.
“I think whoever we had to beat, I thought Serge and P.J. were great acquisitions for us to build a playoff style team,” Casey said. “That was a great move for this organization to have. . . the versatility with both of them. I don’t think you wake up dreaming ‘We gotta make every move to beat Cleveland.’
But to play playoff basketball, you have to have guys like that.
Obviously the biggest challenge for the Raptors is slowing down the freight train that is LeBron James, who averaged 26 points, 8.5 rebounds and 6.7 assists in last year’s series against Toronto. The 31-yearold Tucker said there is “no one” in the league like him. Tucker recalled trying to guard him in one particular game when James was with the Miami Heat. The plan was to force James to take long, 18-19 foot jump shots.
Casey compared James to a free safety in football - roaming around on defence, ready to pounce on passes - and deadly on offence, on numerous levels.
“He’s one of the greatest players in the world right now,” Casey said. “You’re not gonna stop a guy like that. You take away some certain things he likes to do and not let him get to where he wants to go as easily.
“What makes him a doublewhammy is the fact that he’s a great passer and a willing passer for his size.”