There are certain basketball contests that demand to be described as light work. The shorthanded Raptors against this current version of the Cavaliers certainly qualifies. Toronto still has to play the full 48 minutes, and they’d obviously like to win, but heading into the game, it’s always a bit unclear as to how much effort they’re liable to put in. I mean, how hard could it possibly be for the best team in the East to beat one of the worst?
As it turns out: not that hard at all! Minus four starting-calibre players (Kyle Lowry, Danny Green, Serge Ibaka, and Jonas Valanciunas), the Raptors moseyed along through Friday night’s contest in casual control.