Cavs target Raptors’ dynamic duo
Forcing Toronto to turn to players other than DeRozan, Lowry worked in opener
The first possession for the Toronto Raptors in Game 1 revealed the Cleveland Cavaliers’ defensive strategy.
As soon as DeMar DeRozan took a handoff from Jonas Valanciunas, Cleveland’s Tristan Thompson rushed to help J.R. Smith defend DeRozan, who in haste threw the ball over Serge Ibaka’s head and into the front row.
“Trapping is something we’ve been getting the last four years, and we’ve just got to make the right adjustments,” Toronto’s Kyle Lowry said before the Raptors practiced Tuesday. “We’ve got to get players to the right spot. We’ve got to get to the right spot. We’ve got to make the passes to the right spot, and I’m sure me and DeMar will keep continuing to figure it out.”
On Toronto’s sixth possession in what would be a 116-105 loss Monday in the opener of an Eastern Conference semifinal series, Cleveland’s Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love double-teamed Lowry 30 feet from the basket. LeBron James stole Lowry’s pass intended for Ibaka, leading to the arena-rattling left-handed James slam after Irving tossed the ball off the backboard.
The Cavaliers want to blitz and trap All-Star guards Lowry and DeRozan and get the ball out of their hands, forcing other Raptors to beat them.
“It’s more a corral than a trap,” Raptors forward P.J. Tucker said. “They want to contain it, throw two bodies and make them give the ball up. It’s more to make them give the ball up than an actual trap.”
On another possession, James, Thompson and Kyle Korver “corralled” DeRozan, who committed a turnover, resulting in a layup for James.
Not every blitz or double team resulted in a turnover. But it delayed Toronto’s offense and prevented the Raptors from getting into their offense. It kept DeRozan and Lowry from finding an effective rhythm.
It’s not a new strategy against the Raptors. The Milwaukee Bucks tried a similar tactic in the first round and took a 2-1 series lead. But Toronto solved the Bucks defense and won the final three games of the series.
Can the Raptors — Lowry and DeRozan — decipher Cleveland’s defense? Toronto says yes.
“There were some areas they’re vulnerable at the way they play defense, but we have to take advantage of it,” Lowry said. “We can’t make the auto-pass. We have to make the right pass. We
can’t make the pass that looks like it’s there. We have to make them guess, and we have to make them react to us.”
Raptors coach Dwane Casey has said several times there isn’t a defensive scheme Lowry and DeRozan haven’t seen.
The one Cleveland employed in Game 1 worked. DeRozan had 19 points but was a -32, and Lowry had 20 points and 11 assists, a double-double that lacked impact.
“It’s about our execution of what we need to do and our anticipation of what we need to do,” Casey said.
There are antidotes to Cleveland’s defense, starting with quicker decisions amid the pressure and spreading the court. That will allow Toronto to play “race and space” ball. Make Cleveland scramble.
On Cleveland’s side, another story emerged. The Cavs defense — lampooned during the regular and a cause for concern headed into playoffs — is improving.
With time to prep, Cleveland’s coaches have locked in on opponents’ tendencies and devised game plans. While Cleveland won’t be confused with the best defense in the league, it doesn’t look like a point-allowing fiasco.
Thompson is versatile enough to double-team at the top of key and race back to his man in the low post. Smith’s late-career appreciation of defense has allowed Cavs coach Tyronn Lue to defend the opponent’s best perimeter scorer. James isn’t guarding anyone as much he’s playing free safety, which allows him to survey the court, read the passing lanes and disrupt the offense.
“LeBron does a great job of roaming,” Lowry said, adding that it’s difficult to play at the pace the Raptors prefer when “you’re playing against a team that can roam and kind of junk up the game defensively.”
When focused, the Cavaliers can defend. In Game 1, they contested 48 of the Raptors’ 89 shot attempts, according to NBA.com/stats. Cleveland allowed 103.1 points per 100 possessions in Game 1, an improvement from its 111 points allowed in the first round.
“I’m OK with where we’re headed. I’m not pleased. I’m not satisfied,” James said. “It’s still so early. But at the end of the day, I feel like we’re making progress towards being a team that we want to become, and (Monday) was another step in the right direction.
“A couple plays where we gave up some shots where nobody was around to contest, we can’t have that if we want to be as great as we want to become.”