Hot Raps turn attention to Cavs
Toronto has won 6 in a row; Cleveland’s on 3-game losing streak
The Raptors had just won by the biggest margin in franchise history, continuing one of the most impressive runs they have ever had, but all anyone could really think about was Monday’s home game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
That’s life in the NBA. On to the next. Especially, when the forthcoming contest is as big as games can be a quarter of the way through a long season (FYI, none of them are all that big at this point).
The defending champs, a reeling group with three straight losses, looking to make a statement against the team it beat in the conference final back in May.
Dwane Casey had a laugh when questioned post-game on Saturday about whether he liked the reality check the Cavs surely will provide coming now, while his club is riding high, pulverizing every opponent on offence.
“Is that a question? No. I’d rather be playing Toronto university. The schedule gives it to us. It’s coming; it’s going to be here — the schedule goes on,” Casey said.
“It’s a big picture. It’s a long season. There’s going to be ups and downs, (this reporter) reminded me we have a team coming in Monday — he wouldn’t let me enjoy this game,” Casey said with a smile.
“We’ve got some tough teams coming in, and this team is tough, so you can’t relax in this league.”
Sure enough, instead of celebrating victory No. 6 in a row, a 128-84 thrashing of the Atlanta Hawks, Casey went home and pored over tape of the Cavs late Saturday night.
“There’s a thin line between the penthouse and the outhouse in this league. It’s something that I never forget, I’ve been in it too long, seen too much, to understand what it takes and where things can go,” he said.
“I think this team started out 9-2, Atlanta did, so it’s a fine line. The key thing is being consistent, boring. Consistent and fundamentals takes you a long way.”
Consistency and continuity have served the Raptors well. It has also served Cleveland well.
The Cavs were a much better team in 2015-16 in Year 2 of the LeBron James-Kyrie Irving-Kevin Love partnership. Until this recent lapse, they looked even better in Year 3, which was to be expected.
The Cavs will use Monday’s clash to try to find their balance again. The Raptors see it as a chance to reinforce their status as a legitimate, elite squad.
The demolition of Atlanta moved the Raptors up to third in the league in net rating (points scored per 100 possessions versus points allowed) behind only Golden State and the Los Angeles Clippers. The team is scoring 113.8 points per 100 possessions, one of the gaudiest marks in years, and the defence has crept back up to the middle of the pack (16th, all stats before Sunday’s games).
“We’re increasing our defence. I feel like our defence has (been) leading to offence,” DeMarre Carroll said.
“Once we get a stop, we get to running, guys spread to the three-point line, and (when our) guys (are) penetrating, they (the defenders) collapse and we hit threes. It’s a matter of time. We started the season missing so many threes, and now the percentages are catching up.
“We’re trusting each other, and our bench is tops around. We got really good guys — Cory (Joseph), T-Ross (Terrence Ross), Pat (Patrick Patterson). Any given night, you can’t just key in on DeMar (DeRozan) and Kyle (Lowry) and think you can beat the Raptors. We have numerous guys, and that’s how you win basketball games — as a team, not just individually.”
All of a sudden, Toronto has become a true team, as Carroll says. Everyone is contributing, the isolation game has not been as prevalent, the ball is moving beautifully, and the defensive positioning at the other end has been on more of a string, as well.
We’ll see if that keeps up against a much better opponent — Atlanta was missing Paul Millsap, the Los Angeles Lakers were down two starters, the Memphis Grizzlies were missing most of the team, the Philadelphia 76ers didn’t have Joel Embiid, etc.
“They’re going to be a desperate team. We’re a desperate team; we’ve lost to them twice this season, and we want to, kind of, show we’re a top team, so we just have to get ready for the battle for Monday,” Carroll said.
Must-see basketball in early December?
Lo and behold, it should be.